B<J2!t5"?tjJr!!Sp.'T,i,;j_. ly'. ; 




Class 
Book. 






H r STORY 



MAUMEK VALLEY 



Commencing with its Occupation by the French in 1680. 



TO WHICH IS ADDEO {SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS MOKAI, AND 
MATERIAL RESOURCES AS THEY EXIST IN 1S72 



y> ) //. S. KNA PP. 



'J 



TO I, K n O : J 

HIArtK MAMMOTH PRIHTINS ANn I'I'HI.IAHINH HOlinr. 

1S71I 






Entered according to an act oi: (.'ougi-eas, iii the year 187'^, 

By H. 8. KNAPP, 

in the oftire of the ),;brariai> o' Congress, :il V>' ashinglou. 



TO RUTHERFORD BIRCHARI* HAYES. 
latb: governor of ohio : 

Whose official lite adds lustre tu the character of the true suidicr, 
and able and incorruptible statesman, and whose interest in all that 
bears relation to the preservation of the historical wealtii o) ( )hio 
has been manifested throughout his life, this vokune is respectfully 
dedicated, by H. S. K. 

Toledo, May, 1^73 



INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY. 



The author of Ecce Deus says : " History can never be written. 
It ran only be hinted at, and most dimly outlined from the particu- 
lar stand-])oint which the historian has chosen to occupy. It is only 
by courtesy that any man can be called a historian. Seldom do 
men so flatly contradict each other as upon points of fact. Incom- 
pleteness marks all narrations. No man can fully write his own life. 
On reviewing the sheets which were to have told everything, the 
autobiographer is struck with their reticence and poverty." 

It may be said that in this work appear many historians. Its com- 
piler, in> a large degree, has acted only the part of a faithful amanu- 
ensis, and transcribed the recollections of others, as they have been 
given him. Statements are made regarding the same facts by per- 
sons of high character, which other persons equally entitled to credit, 
and having knowledge of the same cotemporaneous events, may cri- 
ticise and contradict. These discrepancies result from the infirmi- 
ties of human memory, and the author could not undertake to adjust 
or reconcile them ; and the remark above (juoted he has found so 
obviously true as to justify repetition : " Seldom do men so flatly 
contradict each other as upon points of fact." This observation will 
apply even to matter emanating from the highest official sources, 
including Messages of Presidents, and reports from heads of civil and 
military departments. For a wise purpose, doubtless, it was ordered 
that the words of only One should outlive and defy all criticism. 

A primary object of this work has been to embody the names and 
recollections of as many of the pioneers of the Maumee Valley as it 
was practicable to obtain, within a reasonable space of time, and 
bring the survivors, so far as the art of printing could execute the 



design, into a Common Council. It is sad to review the decimation, 
made by the hand ot death, during the last two years and more, since 
the commencement of this volume, among the early settlers. If the 
years immediately succeeding make similar inroads upon their ranks, 
the time is close at hand when the last of the old race we call "pio- 
neer," will have been conveyed to his final rest. 

The names of many worthy 'old settlers' of theValley are necessarily 
omitted ; but this work, now largely exceeding the limits originally 
designed, and extending several months beyond the time fixed 
for its appearance, should reach the "finis" before its author reaches 
his tomb. Even if the task has been imperfectly accomplished, the 
months of drudging, though pleasant, toil, devoted to it, will not be 
regarded as spent in vain. The author only regrets that he had not 
lease of longer life than will probably be alloted him, and ample pecu- 
niary resources, to make the work more acceptable. But, commen- 
cing on a prescribed limit of 350 pages, it was again fixed at 500, 
and now, as the reader discovers, considerably exceeds 600, exclu- 
sive of engravings and maps. 

Acknowledgments are due such a multitude of good people for 
kindnesses that discrimination is hardly proper. It would, however, 
be scarcely pardonable to omit expression of general obligation to 
my old cotemporaries of the newspaper press throughout the Valley 
and country, and to name especially the late A. T. Goodman, Secre- 
tary of the Western Reserve and Northern Ohio Historical Associa- 
tion, and the late Secretary of State, W. H. Smitu, Clark Waggoner, 
Alfred F. Edgertuu, Jesup W. Scott, and to the works of my old 
friend and editorial associate, Mr. Charles Cist, of Cincinnati. 

Typographical errors will be discovered. 1 he responsibility for 
these, in a court of equity, would be about equally distributed, pro- 
bably, among printers, proof reader and author. In most instances 
they are so manifest, that the intelligent reader will pass them by 
without complaining of the absence of a hackneyed and hateful 
"errata." H. S. K. 

Toledo, May, 1873. 



losriDEix: 



Allen county, Indiana — its area— first officers — list of Justices in 1872 — pro- 
gress in population and wealth— officers of the county in 1872 378-381 

Allen county, Ohio -its formation, 1820.. ..._• 451 

Altitudes — Table of; [see Appendix "B" 

pioneers, notes of _ ..452-459 

officers in 1872— jail building, population, &c.... 459-461 

Arrowsmith Miller, personal sketch of 593-594 

Armstrong, Captain John — his operations and escape near Fort Wayne, in 
1790 67, 68 

Auglaize river — a night bivouac on 142 

military posts on 154 

navigation of.. 470 

Auglaize county — its organization. . _ , 465 

first term of Court 472 

taxable basis — Federal census. 474, 475 

Barclay, (Captain of the British fleet on Lake Erie) 183 

Bayless, Samuel — " Book of General Orders " 179-182 

Bouquet and Bradstreet, campaigns of . . . 40, 41 

Bowling Green in 1872 484 

Bucyrus— plotted in 1822.. 477 

Bucyrusin 1872 480 

Canal systems of Ohio and Indiana 829-347 

CasSj General Lewis — letter from to the Governor of Ohio 134, 135 

Clay, General Green. 160 

Cofflnberry, Andrew — reminiscences of 306-310 

Coffinberry, James M — personal sketch of... 317,318 

Conant, Dr. Horatio— letter of, in 1822 - 427,428 

personal sketch of 571, 572 

Combs, Genei-al Leslie — letter from 205, 206 

speech of. ..213-217 

Couch. Joseph N — letter from 135, 136 

Crawford county — organization and origin of its name — early history— first 
Court — first and present officers — proceedings of the Board of Com 

. missioners of 1831 1 475-480 

Crawford county— population, wealth, &c., in 1872-73 480, 481 

Crawford's Expedition 51-58 

Croghan, Major, at Fort Stephenson - - .183 

his answer to General Harrison^. 184 

his heroic defence at Fort Stephenson. 185, 18i), 187, 188, 189 

promoted for his gallantry, and complimented by General Harrison — 190 

receives the plaudits of his countrymen . - 191 

at the battle of the Thames ' . ^ - - . 201 

Croghan, George — his visit to the Maumee Valley in 1765-- - -46-49 

in command at Fort i\leigs 174 

receives instructions from General Harrison . . 176 

his desperate resolve 177 

letter to General Harrison 206-208 

Daniels, Willard J — personal sketch of 559-561 



8 

De Cnleron's expedition in 1749 81 

Defiiincf county -- — 58' 

Df'fiiinff (fori ) (Tcrlfd Aupiist, 1704. 87 

troops to 111- cnllfftc'd Ht 140 

Cicncr.il lliirriUDii at 111,142 

ri'volt in ii Kentucky regiment. 14'2-14') 

Wincliestcr ill ^1^ 

Defiance threatened 176 

Logan's deiUli and bnrial .. . . .. 215-lf5G 

fort improved by General Wayne in ITiM '■'>^)^ 

his nmrcli to Fori Wayne . o'i5 

Col. Johnson at Defiance in 1813 - 377 

early white history of . ^62-'yQ'.i 

Defiance, (town) — early instory, when laid out, its lapid growth, popnlation, 
resources, Ac, 59l)-(102 

Delphos— popnlation— ia50. 1860, 1870 .. 4'il 

historical sketch of, and present business 402-465 

Detroit 10-37 

Dickiny)n, Rodolphus— commissioner to establish Crawford 00011179881.47^ 
personal sketch of 525, 526 

Dudley. Colimel, at Fort Meigs .. - 101-170 

Edger ton, Alfred P— personal sketch of. .. 422-424 

Edsall, Wm. S— reminiscences of .. .. 390-402 

Elli(iit, (British Colonel).. 172 

Evans, Dr. John, and S. Gary — personal sketches of . 402-407 

Ewing, Colonel. Geo. W — personal sketch of .40li^l3 

Findlay. (fort)— erecticm of Oil 012 

Fort Adams erected in 1794 .80 

besie-^ed in April, 1813 . 159 

pioneers of Find lay, population, &C., - 612-615 

Fort Industry, (Toledo) 93 

" Dearborn, (at Chicago) 138 

*' Jennings, (i^iitmiu County) — erected in 1812 141 

Fort Stephenson — letters relating to military situation of 177, 178 

Harrison at 183 

heroic defence of ..186 

Fort iMeigs — military defences and operations at in the spring and summer of 

1H13 115 

the post besieged 689 

Fort Miami at Fort Wayne 14 

rebuilt in 1748 by the French, under Lieut. Dubuisson.- 18-30 

Fort Wayne— in 1680 10 

Indian towns at 65-68 

the town in 1812 183 

the post relieved 140 

openioL,' of canal navigation at 846,347 

early history of 348 

La Balm's unfortunate expedition to 351-353 

its military importance in the view of Generals Washington, St. Clair, 

Wayne and Kno.x in 1790-'91-'94 3.5:i-355 

Little Turtle and Gen. Wayne .' .....855-358 

buried at 861 

Indian treaty at Fort Wayne in 18'J3 a^O-SOl 

John B. Kichardville— his birili and death at Fort Wayne 303-804 

General Wayne reaches the town Sept., 1794, and determines the location 

of t he new garrison 865 

fort completed and named , 386 

Fort Wayne from 1794 to 1811 .. 867,368 



the old Counril TToiise SflO 

Mrtjor William (Mivor and Logftn at .. J?(>i) 873 

tilt' fort h»'i*it\::t"il Harrison marches to its nlief — his tUTivftl nnii fliijhi of 

th«' iiK'inv , .375 

situdlion of llif ton *. - . . .»70 

Colonel ,Ii»linson a^ain .vl thp fi>rt 870 

ct>niman(lanis of tho t(>rt . , 877 

land otllro .stahlishod at in 1839 ...878 

mnnioipal oflixrs 18 U> 1870 .880 

chunlu-s, ntwspaptTs, scln^ols, benevolent institnlions ;iS3,88S 

the town in IS8I 884 887 

hnsiness of the liiy in U^73 887 80ft 

j>ii>neers of t he \' rtlley , non-resident* of 878, 8i>ft. 434 

i>ein!: threatened by tJUe Indians, prompts the expedition against Mis- 

sinsinewa ...... 469 

Proctor demands its snrrender Harrison's reply 160 

narrowly esrapcs ilostrnotiou . 167 

se<"ond sii'ue of . . . 174 

saved Iron* a srreat peril • . . 177 

r-anip lite at 170-183 

the second siege abandoned ..,..., 184 

in»pi>rtance ot the post 191 

the fort as^ain threatened 877 

F(>ot of the Ixnpids capture of Captain John A. Clark, a British offi- 
cer 140.147 

Winchester at 148 

Harrison at . tr>9 159 

British erect batteries (>n left bank..,. . lt?6 

Foster, Tharles W , persoinil sketch of 508, ft04 

Fostoria 508-505 

Fulton county 578 

French posts surrender t^f in I7t">l. by the French 83 

Frontenac, (Count) . 10 

Gano. General .lohti S letter of 210. 311 

Girty . Simon, his family 58. 59, 60 

a poet's view i>f his character . 579-580 
Gladwvn, eonunauvlant at Detrtnt . 80. 87 
GtHifrey. Dr. Charles M 009 

Hancock County — Early history of, pioneers, present resources, «!tc., 611-616 

Harilin, Colonel — operations near Fort Wayne 07-70 

Harmar's lampaigu 63-73 

Harrismi, Ctcneral William Henry — appointment ot as commander-in-chief of 
the north western army. September 17. 1818— instructions from the war 

department .,..., ,. . 189. 140 

his defence of Fort Meigs, ,-» 158-161 

invades Canada ..;,.. - • 198 

his otheial rt^port of the battle of the Thames 198-303 

Henrv county ■ 578-583 

Hoakjland, Pfinv, personal sketch of 418-415 

Holgate. Win v.. personal sketch of... 597-599 

Holmes, eusii^n, his death at Fort Wayne. -85 

Htill, General — appointed to command of north-western army — his incapacity 
and misfortunes — terms of his surrender at Detroit, and his trial ior 

treason 136 183 

letter from General Jessup in relation to 184 

Hunt, John K,. reminiscences and personal sketch of 568-508 

Indian naval engajrcment 44 

Indians— moral and reliirious condition of in 18(V,? 103 101 



Iriflinn tndii*'- Ht Fori M'lui'x^h, 'Kt df Jariimry, 1785 . . . 

fit Korl H;irmiir, January •'. 17H9 

at Fort 'irifciivillf. Aii;.niHl ;i. \i'X> ... 

ar F>>r\ lri<liistry. (Toledo,) July 4, 1^05 . 

Ht I).li.»il, I7lh Nov.inlifr, IH()7 ... 

lit HrowMNtown, NovcriilK-r 2.">, 1H<)H 

at tin- foot of tlH- Miiiiriic«- HiiitidM, H<-\>\i-in\tfr 2U, ]H] , 

Hi St. Mary'H. H«'pl<riil)<-r 17, IH|h 

Hi Sai^iiLiw, KfpicrntMT 21, IHl'.t 

at Fori Wiiyiif. in IH08 

IftMl Irmly willi tlie Oliio Indian'- 

JolinHon, (!olon*'l f{irh(ird M~«l Ihf hattir f)( lh«- ThanrifK 

he killH Tff iirnsch 

.fonrair«' on lli»* Maiimfft in MM 

Knapgs, f^iplain Jarn»'K — hiH UiKlimony rfgarding tlir- <U:nU) of 

seh 

Lawyf-rs in prartirc in 1872 A 1878; [j«ee Appr-ndix "A" 

Lima, Alliti ronnly nou-.-i rc^'arding ItB early and latfr hiBtory 

Mule 'rnrtlc and fJcrn-ral VVayn*' .... 

Little Turtle a dipiornatiHl hh wfll hh warrior 
I,f>Kaii, (Itif Indian fjiief.) and Mcjor Wm. <^)liv«!r 

Lotjin'.H lurnily and dealli . 

lyorauiie, j'eier, liis station and his dwilh, At; 

Loskiel. Moravian iniHKionary 

Lower Sandnsky — HUggt^ation of name for the town, in IHlf; 
Lower Sandusky 

freneral Harrison at 

mililary situation al 

operationH at in 1818 

"general firdiTH." May 14 and 22, 1818.. 

Proft(»r al 

A had mililary [KiHilirin 

petition for relief to Gov. Meigs, from citiz'-nB of 

letter from Gen. Gano 

Liica.s eonnly its early hiHlory. pioneers, Ac . 

itB hiHtorv reHiimed 

Mrtckinar, surrender of 

Manmee Valley — first wliilf settlement in 108<J 

Miiumee river in 17 IH known aw " River a la Roche" 

as a mililJiry route in 1759 

mililary imi>orlanc« of, and of Lake Erie, oh viewed by the French in 

i:6I 88 

Mftumee river— its importance to the army in the war of 1812, hh a channel of 

transportation 212 

Mr Arthur, Gen. I>un<;an — letter to Governor Worthington 212 

Mereer county— when formed— origin of ilR natne— St. Clair's battle— Wayne's 
trace— Bimon Girty — the fort at St. Mary's — l"tler from Gen. Wayne- 
earliest white witlement at Fort R4-rovery— the slain of St. Clair's 

army •. 43b-441 

first fcsftion of the commiHsioners . ;.. 441 

first Court term 442 

pioneers .41'.', 4>8 

reservoir troubles.. .. 44;<-44.^ 

pioneer notes 44.'"» 4.')0 

county administration— county offlrers for 1871-72 — valuation of pro|.«*riy 

and population — Celina, Ac . ... I'lO 4'^1 

Metcalf, .ludge Ben —anecdote by ... 821 

Miller, Cohmel John,-at the Hieire of Fort Meigs .161 



.218. 


219 


21!», 


220 


.22r) 


226 




227 


227, 


228 


2!h 


•f'.U 


2;n 


2.',H 




2:58 


859 8«il 




2:i9 




199 


201 


208 




2« 


Tecum- 


201 


208 


4.-58 4fll 


8.'55-8ft« 


:w.t 3'ii 




215 


M;r, 


4tifl 


2 


"•, 2« 




AS 




AH 




140 




151 




153 




158 


177 


. 17m 




183 




192 


21 Kl 


.210 


210, 


, 211 


532 


5:j« 




«l« 




35 




9 14 




. 20 




30 



6 

Miami, (Fort Wayne,) passes under control of English in 1761 88 

captured under Pontiac in 1764 35 

Miami villages at and near Fort Wayne — their military importance in the 

view of General Washington 73 

Miner, Byrum D — a public spirited citizen of Fort Wayne, who represented 
Allen county in the legislature of Indiana, and also held other responsible 

official ixxiA fiduciary (not, as printed, "judiciary") positions 412 

" Mohickon," John's Town. , -..._. _ _ . . 32 

Moravian Missions in Ohio 49, 50, 51 

Morris, his reception and maltreatmemt at Fort Wayne 42-44 

Morrison, John H — reminiscences of 326, 327 

Mott, Richard, recollections of, regarding Toledo 544-559' 

Nichols, Francis L., personal sketch of 577, 578 

Nicholas— his conspiracy in 1745 -.. 14-19 

Ohio, United States and Michigan territory — boundary ctmtroversy — origin of 
the constitutional provision in 1802 — letters from Amos Spafford and Dr. 
H. Conant — the agitation renewed in 1835 — legislative hostilities between 
Ohio and Michigan — efforts at compromise — Gov. Mason, of Michigan, 
rejects the peace offers — the surveying expedition — explanation of a Michi- 
gan prisoner — Major Stickney and N. Goodsell, prisoners ; their letters — 
letter from Andrew Palmer — meeting at Toledo — Gov. Lucas calls an 
extra session ; his message — atteni])t to arrest Two Stickney — Noah H. 
Swayne, Wm. Allen and David T. Disney, Ohio commissioners to Wash- 
ington — close of the controversy — peace jubilee at Toledo 240-364 

Oliver, Major William — letter refering to siege ol Fort Findlay 159, 160 

reaches Fort Meigs with message to Harrison 160 

at Upper Sandusky - - .-- 21)9 

at Waupaukonnetta and Fort Wayne -. - . .215 

again at Fort Wa.yne ...369-372 

Onatanon, (fort near Lafayette, Indiana) 35 

Ottawa county '..- 531, 533 

Paulding County — when organized, popttlation, &c., ...602-604 

notes by Gen. Curtis ... - 603 

Paully, ensign, commandant at Fort Sandusky — his capture, romantic narra- 
tive, divorce and escape . 35-37 

Perkins, General Ohio Militia, assigned to command of the right wing of the 

army, by General Harrison 145 

Perry, Commodore — his naval victory upon Lake Erie 193-198 

at the battle of the Thames 201 

Perrysburg (see Fort Meigs) — post office established at in 1810, and in 1816 the 
ONLY (not, as printed, " old ") post office between the river Raisin and 

Lower Sandusky, and between the Maumee bay and Chicago 425 

suggestion that originated the name 427 

thetown in 1833 ...432 

" " " 1838 438, 434 

" " " 1872 434, 435 

Pickawillany — its destruction 22-26 

Pioneers — others in the Maumee Valley; [see Appendix marked " D."] 

Political campa^n of 1840— mtmster meeting at Fort Meigs -265-269 

humors of later conflicts 2(59-273 

Pontiac — his speech to Alexander Henry 32,33 

besieges Detroit — 38 

his craft fails . 39 

his financial scheme -- 40 

his character and death 44 

Posts — French, surrender of 33 

Potter, Emery D., personal sketch of - 285-288 

Proctor, (British General) 158,165, 183 



Prentice, Frederick— personal sketch of. 501-563 

Presbyterian Mission on the Muumee ; [Appendix "C" 

Piilinm County — Early history, pioneers, first lawyers first pbysicianti, 606-609 
Population - 611 

Khea, Captain J it8, i;«, 184 

Kice, Clark II., personal sketch of 60!)-bl0 

Rice, Gen. A. V., military record of 610-011 

Richardviile, John B— his character and death 862-364 

Rogers, Major Robert, expedition of, in 1760— his trip fVom Detroit via Mau- 

mee river to Pittsburg 81, :^2 

Rudisili, Henry 407,408 

Sandusky county — early history, present resources, &c 505- o81 

Sandusky (fort,) surrender of under Pontiac, in 1764 85, 36 

Scott, Jesup VV., personal sketcii of 572-577 

Seneca county — organization — early history, present resources, «fec 490-505 

Seneca (fort) — Pleasant township, Beneca county 188 

Sessions Horace, personal sketch of 594-597 

Spink, John C — reminiscences of 8l4r-816 

St. Clair, General Arthur — succeeds Harmar 71 

instructions to 72, 78, 74, 75 

his army in motion — his defeat, and explanations 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 

jiersonal sketch ol... 572 

St. Mary's — its military importance during the war of 1812 .140, 141 

war transports for army 212 

tirst settlements at 468 

early settlers — old block house, &c 470, 471 

the town audits prospects in 1872 471,472 

formerly known as Girty's town — its sitiialictn in 1814 468 

as a depot for army supplies 469 

the town in 1824 and 1872 _ ....474 

Suttenfield, Mrs. Laura— 408,409 

Tecumseh at the siege of Fort Meigs 161 

his magnanimity _ 163-173 

m peril • ,,. 165 

at Fort Stephenson 188, 192, 193 

killed l)y Colonel Johnson at the battle of the Thames 199. 2n2. 2i);j 

his character and generous qualities .. 204,205,206 

The old Bench and Bar — tirst Court north-west of the river Ohio — the territo- 
rial judiciary — attorneys admitted in 1H02— Supreme Bench, 1802-1872— 
reminiscences of Judge David Iliggins ; hi> views regarding the boundary 
controversy — Indian murder trial at F'remont— judicial circuits in North- 
western Ohio under the tirst Constitution — Common Pleas Judges under 
the Constitution of 1802 — the old Bar members. Judge Emery D. Potter, 
Judge John Fitcli, and others — reminiscences ot lion. Tho.-* W. Powell ; 
his recollections of Perrysburg and Mauniee city in 1^20; of the <ihl law- 
yers; murder trial ; trip to Defiance ; notes regarding Maj. Slicknev, John 

C. Spink, etc., etc .274-306 

Toledo (Fort Industry) . H3 

pri.soners and exhibition of scalps at, in 1813 * 178 

General Combs' experience at 206 

Indian treaty, July 4, 1^05 held at ... 227 

sometliing of its |)ast and present — Progress in taxable wealth and popu- 
lation — imports and exports — railways, &c., 620-637 

recollections of Sanford L. Collins 610-619 

ol J, W. Scott, 53T-544 

of Richard Molt 544 559 

o' Major Si ickney 586 

(see " boundary controversy ") — public meeting at in 1885 256 



8 - 

Toledo in 1836 and in 1816 263,264 

other notes relating to history of 536-562 

Treaties— (see Indian treaties.) 

Upper Sandusky — (Crawford's expedition).. ...50-58 

(war of 1812) 140 

right wing of the army at.. 148 

General Harrison at 151 

military situation at 158 

Harrison's principal stores at . 183 

military importance of the place ' 191 

letter from J. C. Bartlett, Q. M. G., to Gen. Lewis Cass 209 

exodus of the Indians from Upper Sandusky, July, 1843 .289 

the town in 1872 ...488 

Urbana ...140 

Van Wert — when formed and organized, — population, early history, pioneers, 
first and present county officers — notes on the existing resources of the 

town, &c., 604-606 

Waite, Morrison R., personal sketch of 586-571 

War of 1812, declared June 12th — the imperilled north-westeru Irontier — 
causes that led to the war — letter from General Solomon Sibley 

. 122-126 

Washington, George, President — his Indian policy 60, 61 

Way, Willard V — his reminiscences of the old bench and bar 313-318 

personal sketch of, &c ...437 

Wayne, Anthony — commenced his north-western campaign in 1792 88 

erects Fort Greenville and Recovery in 1793 85 

his march and victory 86-93 

his death 94 

General Hull in command — on the Maumee in June, 1812 — incapableness ot 
Hull and the administration — complaint of army contractors — difficulty 

in transporting supplies — his surrender at Detroit 128-132 

Waupaukonnetta — " the town of Tecumseh and of Logan " .214-215 

Tecumseh, Logan, Bright Horn, and Capt. John 465-467 

Col. Richard M. Johnson, Anthony Shane, D. M. Workman, David Robb, 

and Robert J. Skinner 467,468 

early • history of and original proprietors 468-478 

Wells, Captain William 88-100 

Winchester, General J — letter from . . _ 137. 138, 139 

assigned, at Defiance, by General Harrison, to the command of the left 

wing of the army 145 

at Defiance, at the close of 1812 . . . . 148 

at the foot of the Rapids, January, 1813 .... 148 

at Frenchtown, (river Raisin) — his mistake, defeat, and massacre of his 

troops . 149,150,151 

public opinion regarding his defeat 156 

Williams county . 582-585 

Williams, Jesse L — personal sketch of 415-422 

425 

...426 
428-430 
430-432 



Wood county— in 1790, 1810 and 1816... 

in 1812-15 

session of the commissioners in 1820-23 

progress in population and wealth 

pioneer notes— Capt. David Wilkinson, Willard V. Way, William Ewing, 
and Aaron S. Dresser 435-4B7 

Worthington, Gov. Thomas— letter to Gen. McArthur and confidential com- 
munication to the lower branch of the legislature - 213 

Wyandotte County — formation — Kenton, Girty, Logan, &c., ..483-484 

Methodist Mission, early settlers, taxable wealth, population, &c., 484-488 

Wyandot Indians. 38, 34, 35 



History of the Mauaiee Valley. 



CHAPTER I. 



FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT IX OHIO MADE ON 'IIIE MAUMPIE RIVER, 

IX 1080. 



TuE first efforts made by p]uropeans, or their descendants, to 
settle the territory now forming the jurisdiction of Ohio, were 
undertaken by the French, in the Maumee \'alley, and in the year 
1680. It was deemed prudent Ijy tliose who souglit even temporary 
domicil among the savages, whether the object was trade, agricul- 
ture, or missionary hibor, to first secure safety against surprise and 
attack by the construction of military defences. The enterprising 
and fearless discoverer, La .Salle, erected, in the autumn of the 3ear 
mentioned, a stockade at the con#uence of the .St. Mary's and .St. 
Josepli'ri rivers, on the ground now occupied by Fort AVayne, and 
retained jiossession of ii about one montii. 

During the year 1071), the Count de Frontenac, Governor of 
Canada, urged upon the French monarch the importance of erecting 
forts and trading posts in the Western country, along the chain of 
great lakes. Though no assistance came from the prolligate King, 
Frontenac, who was a man of great energy and spirit, sent out a 
number of trading i)arties, with authority to erect stores or i)osts, 
and to take possession of all the country visited, in the name of the 
government of France. 

"One of these parties found liieir way to tlie Miami or .Maumee 
river, and in 108U, built a small stockade just below the site of 
Maumee City. This was an important trading point for several 
years, and in 1691 was under the command of Sieur Courthemanche ; 



10 First White Settlement 

but was finally abandoned for a more eligible location at the head of 
the Maumee river, near where the city of Fort Wayne now stands. On 
the very spot where the fort of Maumee stood, the British, in 1794, 
erected Fort Miami.'' This statement is made upon the authority of 
the late A. T. Goodman, Esq., Secretary of the Western Eeserveand 
Northern Ohio Historical Society, who obtained the data upon which 
it is based, from French records, at Montreal and Quebec, and papers 
at Albany and Harrisburg. Hence the occnj)ation of the Maumee 
ante-dated that sought to be established on the Detroit; the first 
effort at French settlement being made on the last named river in 
1683. 

In 1701, de la Motte Cadillac laid the foundations of Fort Pont- 
chartrain on the Detroit, which embraced the whole strait from 
Lake Erie to Lake Huron. The first grants of land at Detroit, i. e., 
Fort Pontchartrain, were made in 1707. Cadillac was not only 
founder of Detroit, but Governor of Louisiana. The town, as we have 
noticed, was founded subsequent to the settlements on the Maumee 
river ; yet, according to the statement of Judge Burnet, it was the 
<y most ancient on the Upper Lakes ; and was the capital of Upper 
Canada until it fell into the hands of the United States. 

In 1689, the Count de Frontenac was again commissioned Gover- 
nor of Canada. The following year (1690), war broke out between 
England and France, and the King of the French, in a letter to 
Frontenac, expressed "great desire for the maintenance of French 
posts in the West." 

In 1695, Captain Nichols Perrot built a trading station "at the 
Avest end of Lake Erie." This continued for two years, when the 
Miarais plundered the place, seized Perrot, and were on the point of 
" roasting him alive," when he was saved by the Outagamis. The 
exact location of Perrot's station can not now be determined. During 
the year 169.5, a very bloody war occurred between the Iroquois 
and Miamis, in which the latter nation suffered severely, as did the 
French traders in the Ohio and Illinois country. AVe find the Gov- 
ernor of Canada complaining that the Iroquois "roasted all the 
French prisoners " that came into their hands. 

It is probable that English traders first began to establish them- 

^ selves for permanent operations in the West in 1698-99. Early i)i 

the year 1700, M. de Longueuil held a grand Council at Detroit, with 

the Outaouais, Hurons, Pouteouatamis and Mississagues. In his 

speech to them he said: "The Englishmen hath reddened the sea 



In ilif Mdumee Valley. 11 

with my blood ; he has also canselcBsly stained with it a great many 
other countries. 31y hatchet has not stirred, lint now that he 
iiath pushed uie to the wall by so many relapses, I must perish or 
avenge on him all the blood he has drawn Irom my veins. It is 
neitlier to Montreal nor his territory that I direct your first steps 
against him. It is in your own immediate vicinity, where he, for 
■several years, hath quietly made his way with his good>\ It is to the 
White river and to the Beautiful river, (Ohio,) that I expect you will 
immediately march in ([uest of him, and when you destroy him, you 
will seize and divide all his goods among you. .Set out forthwith. 
You shall want for nothing that you require for the extirpation of 
this scum. If the ICnglish escape you on the lieautiful river, (Ohio,) 
you will lind them a little farther off with liis brother, the Flat- 
Head." 

In answer to a message of the White river Indians, M. de Long- 
ueuilsaid: "Wait not till the English strike lirst; commence by 
binding and pillaging all the English who come to your parts, and 
the Beautiful river, (Ohio); divide the goods among you, and bring 
the men here to Detroit.'' During the year 1700, the Iroquois, after 
years of hostility, made a treaty with the French, by which their 
missionaries and traders were allowed in all parts of the West. 
About this time a party of factors from Detroit built a small post 
on the Maumee, Avhere Toledo now stands. 

In 1703, the English invited the Ilurons and Miamis to locate 
near the Senecas, on Lake Erie, assuring them of protection against 
the French. The i)roposition was rejected. 

During the year 1705, Sieur de Joncaiie visited the Seneca Indians, 
and Sieur de Vincennes the Miamis, on business of the Governor of 
Canada, and found English traders with each nation. 

In 1107, M. de Cadillac, commandant at Detroit, marched with a 
small force against the Miamis, and soon forced them to terms. Two 
years later (1709), Cadillac advocated the building of a ship canal 
from i^ake Erie to Lake Ontario. 

In 1712, Sieur de Vincennes paid a second visit to the ^liamis. 
The French post at Detroit was besieged by the Pouteouatiunis and 
Saguenays. who made war on the Indian allies of the French, massa- 
creing nearly one thousand men, women and children of the Outaga- 
mis and Maskoutins. 

As early as 1714, Governor Alexander Spotswood, of Virginia, a 
man of foresight and energy, saw the advantage \q be gained by ati 



12 First White Settlement 



early settlement of the Ohio country. He had been appointed Gov- 
ernor in 1710, an office which he filled with great ability for twelve 
years. During the year 1714, he explored the country across the Blue 
Kidge to the Ohio, and became enamored with the surroundings. It 
was not, however, until the year 1716, that he communicated to the 
Legislature a plan for a company to settle the lands on the Ohio 
river. The Legislature viewed the matter favorably, and the papers 
were sent to the English Ministry for approval. They were held for 
a long time, and finally the plan was rejected. The exact cause was 
never known, but was supposed to have been fear on the part of the 
Ministry, that the planting of colonies to the westward would give 
offence to the French. Notwithstanding this disheartening refusal, 
the matter was not entirely dropped. From time to time, pamphlets 
were printed, and letters published, urging upon the English Gov- 
ernment the necessity of pushing its possessions westward. There 
were plenty of capitalists ready to risk their money in the purchase 
of lands and building up of settlements, but the Ministry were 
weak and timid, and would give no encouragement whatever. 

In 1714, Captain de La Forest showed to the French Government 
the importance of maintaining Detroit, and keeping possession of 
Lake Erie and its environs. The French monarch had more fore- 
sight than England's King, and spent vast sums of money in 
extending his possessions. In 1715, a party of Englishmen from 
North Carolina constructed three posts on the south side of the 
Ohio, and its branches. 

The French having obtained control of the Ohio Indians, the 
English in 1716 sent agents among them with speeches and presents, 
and endeavored to form an alliance, but were unsuccessful. The 
same year seventeen Frenchmen were killed while on their way from 
the Illinois country to Detroit. In a letter, addressed about this 
time by M. de Ramezay and M. Begon, to the Governor of Canada, 
they requested the French Government to build a post at Niagara, 
on the ground that "this post would deter the Mississague and 
Amicoue Indians from going to the Iroquois to trade, when passing 
from the neighborhood of Lake Erie." A stockade was built by the 
French at Vincennes, but soon abandoned. 

During the year 1720, French traders were active along the Ohio. 
Sieur de Joucaire reported that he had seen "a fountain near the 
head waters of the Ohio, the water of which is like oil, and tasted 
like iron." iFurther north, he rejwrtod another fbiintain of tlie samo 



In ihe Maumre Valley. 1 '^ 



kind. " The savages," he says, "make use of the water to appease all 
manner of pains.'' 

In lT2v', a trt'aty was made at Albany, New York, between the 
Iro(|Uois and Jliighsh, by which tjie lands west of the Allegheny 
Mountains were acknowledged to belong to the Irocjuois by reason 
of their eon(|nests from the Eries, Conoys, Tongorias, &c. 

In 17:2"), Han>n ile Longueuil was made Governor of Canada, and 
soon after rei)orted that, "the P^nglish have built two houses and 
some stores on a small stream which flows into the Wabash, where 
they trade with the Miamis and Ouyatanons." 

During the year K'-iC, the country from the Cuyahoga in Ohio, to 
Oswego in Xew Vori<, was placed by tiie Iroquois under the ])rotec- 
tion of the English. 

In 17'2H. the Alaniuis de Beauharnois, then Governor of Canada, 
recommended the en-eiion of a fort on the south shore of Lake Erie, 
to serve as winter tpiarters for two sloops he proposed to build on 
that lake. ''By tliis nu-ans," he writes, "the English would be 
prevented tro,ii Sfuding loaded canoes with l)randy and merchandise 
to the head of Lake P'rif." The King declined building the fort, or 
]iaying for the construction of sloops. 

In 1720, Joshua Gee, of London, printed a pam]»hlet urging the 
planting of English colonies in Western America. The following 
year (17:J0), CJovernor Keith urged upon the Ministry the advantages 
of securing British dominion west of the mountains. 

During the year 1731, Sieur de Joncaire, by direction of the Gov- 
ernor of Canada, visted the Shawanese, who had located on the Ohio 
and its branches — for the pur]»ose of securing their friendship and 
alliance. 

In 173(», Vincennes was destroyed by the savages. The French 
now claimed to have 10,403 warriors, and 8:i,000 souls under their 
control in the West. 

During the year 173«J, M. dc Longueuil left Detroit, -crossed the 
Ohio country, and discovered Bigbone Lick, in Kentucky. De Lon- 
gueuil constructed a road from Detroit to the Ohio river, which 
crossed tlie Maumee at the foot of the ra)ii(l>, and was thereafter 
used by the Canadians. 

In 1742, a number of herdsmen from Detroit siitied at \'iiieeniK'.>.. 
John Howard, an English traveler, crossed the mountains from 
Virginia, descended the Ohio in a cauoe, and was taken prisoner by 
the French, near the Mississippi. 



14 Plot of Nklwlas. 



In 1743, Peter Charties, a Frenchman living in Philadelphia, 
undertook, by a mission among the Ohio Shavvanese, to engage them 
in war with the Six Nations. For this" he was severely reprimanded 
by the Governor of Pennsylvania, and becoming alarmed, fled to 
Canada, where he was appointed Captain in the French service. lie 
secured an alliance of the Shavvanese with the French. The same 
year the Detroit French sent goods and presents to a party of Sene- 
cas, Onon'Iagas, and others of the Iroquois, then recently settled on 
the White river. In return for these favors, the Indians promised 
to drive off all English traders from the Ohio. 

In 1744, Commissioners of the Colony of Pennsylvania made a 
treaty at Lancaster, Pa., with representatives of the six nations, by 
which the latter *■' recognized the King's right to all lands beyond 
the mountains." Encouraged by this, the English formed several 
settlements and magazines along the Ohio, but were driven off, 
almost immediately, by Detroit Indians. Hearing of their location 
on the White river, (Indiana,) M. de Longueuil sent thirty-five 
picked warriors of the Outaouais, to kill and plunder them, which 
Avas accomplished. Peter Charties, with one hundred Shawanese, 
ambuscaded two English traders on the Allegheny, near the Ohio, and 
seized their property, valued at sixteen hundred pounds. The traders 
were sent to Canada. 

During the year 1745, a dispute arose with the Senecas, in which 
several of the latter were killed, but no general warfare followed. 



PLOT OF NICHOLAS TO EXTERMINATE THE FRENCH POWER IN THE 

WEST. 

This year, the Miamis entered into the conspiracy of Nicholas, the 
distinguished Huron chief, who resided at *' Sandosket," on the bay 
of that name. A plot was formed for a general extermination of the 
French power in the West. Seventeen tribes joined in this move- 
ment. In July, the Miamis danced the Calumet at Detroit, yet 
soon after seized Fort Miami, took eight Frenchmen, and destroyed 
the buildings. This tribe had removed from the Detroit river to 
lands on the north side of Sandusky bay. They were a powerful 
body of men; active, energetic, and unscrupulous. They had in 
gome manner been offended by the French at Detroit, which affords 
the reason of their change of Imbitatiou, Nicholas, their principal 



Plot of Xirlwlas. 15 



/ 
chief, was a wily fellow, full of savage cnmiing, whose enmity, when 
once aroused, was greatly to be feared. 

Late in the same year a party of En<;li.sh traders from Pennsylva- 
nia visited the village of Nicholas, and were received with marked 
attention. Kicholas had become an implacable enemy of the French, 
and was therefore ready to make a treaty of amity and good will 
with the English. lie accordingly permitted the erection of a large 
block house at his principal town on the bay, and suffered the traders 
to nmiain and dispose of their stock of goods. Once located, the 
Knglisl: established themselves at the place, and, according to French 
accounts, acquired great influence with Nicholas and his tribe. This 
influence was always exercised to the injury of the French. 

On the 2.")d of June, 1747, live Frenchmen, with peltries, arrived 
at the Sandusky town from White river, a small stream falling 
into tiie "Wabash nearly opposite the i)resent town of Mt. Carmel, 
Illinois. Tiiese Frenchmen, being wholly unaware of the presence 
of English among the Ilurotie, were unsuspicious of danger, and 
counted upon the hospitality and friendshi}) of the Indians. Their 
presence, however, inspired anytliing but tokens of good will. 
Nicholas was greatly irritated at the audacity of the French in com- 
ing into his towns without his consent. The English traders, 
noticing this feeling, urged the chief to seize the Frenchmen and 
their jjcltries. This was accomplished on the afternoon of the day 
of their arrival. The fate of the poor Frtiichmen was soon deter- 
mined. Nicholas condemned them to death, and tlu-y were toma- 
hawked in cold blood. Their stock of peltries was disposed of to 
the English, and by them sold to a party of Seneca Indians. 

The news of these outrages created much feeling among the 
French at Detroit, and especially so among the traders in the Ohio 
country. As soon as the Sandusky munlers came to the information 
of the Governor of Canada, he ordered M. de Longueuil, command- 
ant at Detroit, to send a messenger to Nicholas denninding the 
surrender of the murderers of the five Frenchmen. The deman-l 
was not complied with. Three other messengers in turn followed, 
but were met with the same refusal. M. de Longueuil then sent a 
l)ereniptory demand, ref|uiring the surrender of the murderers, to be 
disposed of acrording to his pleasure; that the llnroiis must ally 
themselves at once with the French, or the latter will become their 
irreconcilable enemies ; that the French were disposed to look upon 
the ncent murders as acts of irresponsible parties, and not of the 



16 Frenclh Village at Fort Wayne. 

Huron tribe, and that all English traders must leave the Indian 
towns forthwith. 

The answer returned to these propositions amounted to a defiance, 
and preparations were made for an expedition against Sandusky. 

The crafty Nicholas was not less active than the French. He 
formed a great conspiracy for the capture of Detroit and the upper 
French posts, and the massacre of the white inhabitants. How long 
this conspiracy had been brewing, we have no information. We 
know that by August, 174T, the Iroquois, Hurons, Outaouagas, 
Abenaquis, Pons, Ouabash, Sauteurs, Outaouas, Mississagues, Foxes, 
Sioux, Sacs, Sarastaus, Loups, Pouteouatamis, Chaouenons and 
Miamis had entered into a grand league, haviug for its object exter- 
mination of French dominion and authority in the West. Every 
nation of Indians, excepting those in the Illinois country, entered 
into the plan with zeal and alacrity. 

Offensive operations were to commence at once. A party of De- 
troit Hurons were to sleep in the fort and houses at Detroit, as they 
had often done before, and each was to kill the people where he 
lodged. The day set for this massacre was one of the holidays of 
Pentecost. A band of Pouteauatamis were commissioned to destroy 
the French mission and villages on Bois Blanc Island ; the 
Miamis, to seize the French traders in their country; the Iroquois, 
to destroy the French village at the junction of the Miami and St. 
Joseph ; the Foxes, to destroy the village at Grreen Bay ; the Sioux, 
Sacs and Sarastaus to reduce Michillimacinac ; Avhile the other 
tribes were to destroy the French trading posts in their respective 
countries, seize the traders, and put them to death. 

This great conspiracy, so skillfully planned and arranged, would 
have been attended with a frightful loss of life, and tlie utter annihi- 
lation of French power, but for its accidental yet timely discovery. 

It seems that a party of Detroit Hurons had struck before the 
other tribes were ready, by the murder of a Frenchman in the forest. 
a few leagues from Detroit. This act was unauthorized by the 
Huron chiefs, who had made their arrangements for occupying the 
houses at Detroit, and were only waiting for the appointed time to 
strike the fatal blow. So fearful were the chiefs that their object 
would be detected since the murder, that a council was held in one 
of the houses, which had been obtained for the purpose, to deter- 
mine whether any change of oj)erations was necessary. While they 
were in council, one of their squaws, going into the garret of the 



Plot of NichotaH Defeated. 1 7 

house in search of Indian corn, overheard the details of the con- 
spiracy. She at once hastened to a Jesuit priest, and revealed the 
plans of the savages. The priest lost no time in communicating 
with M. de Longueuil, the. French commandant, who ordered out 
the troops, aroused the people, and gave the Indians to understand 
that their plans had been discovered, and would be discomfited. 
With great alacrity, messengers were despatched to the forts and 
trading posts, which put the people on their guard, and caused them 
to retire to places of safety. All t'ae settlers in the vicinity of De- 
troit were uotitled to enter the fort. The poSt of Miami was aban- 
doned, and relief asked for from Quebec. 

When the Hurous at Detroit found they had been detected, they 
sullenly withdrew, the commandant being unwilling to open actual 
hostilities by detaining them. Soon after this the Indian operations 
began, though confined to a small scale, on account of the vigilance 
of M. de Longueuil in apprising his countrymen of their danger. 
The latter part of August, 174T, a number of Frenchmen were killed 
at Chibarnani ; eight traders were seized in the Miami country; a 
man named Martineau was killed near Detroit ; the SiUiteurs attacked 
a convoy of French canoes on Lake St. Clair, captured one and 
plundered the goods; the Outaowas killed a number, of French 
traders residing in their country : the Foxes murdered several traders 
at Green Bay ; a French trader was killed on the Miami ; a party of 
Hurons attacked the inhabitants of Bois Blanc Island, and wounded 
three men. Five of the Hurons were captured, taken to Detroit, 
and heavily ironed. One was soon after killed by the people, and 
another committed suicide. Other murders were committed, and 
trading houses destroyed, but the conspiracy had been pretty effectu- 
ally broken up by its timely discovery. Soon after hostilities had 
commenced, numbers of those who had entered the league deserted 
it, and craved the pardon and favor of the French. First among 
these were the OutaoAvas and Pouteowatamis, the latter having 
agreed to destroy the Bois Blanc villages. Thus weakened,. the 
plans and efforts of Nicholas were in a measure paralyzed. 

On the 22d of Septemberj a large. number of boats, containing one 
hundred and fifty regular soldiers, arrived at Detroit from Montreal. 

Upon hearing of this, Nicholas abandoned all his plans, and was 
ready to make peace on the best terms he could obtain. He knew 
that certain destruction awaited his villages, unless pardon was 

3 



18 Nicholas abandons Sandusky Bay 

obtained ; for the French commandant was already meditating a 
punishment for him and his people, for the murder of the five 
traders the June previous. 

During the summer, two chiefs of the* Detroit Hurons, Sastaredzy 
and Taychatin, had visited Detroit on a professed mission of friend- 
ship. They were seized and sent to Quebec to answer for the mur- 
ders committed by the Sandusky Hurons. Sastaredzy died at 
Quebec on the 4th of August ; Taychatin was released when peace 
was made. Nicholas secured the j)ardon of himself and the San- 
dusky Hurons, upon the most favorable terms — that of maintaining 
peace in the future. The French abandoned their demand for the 
murderers of the five traders, and made no conditions as to the 
Indian trade with the English. Even during the winter that fol- 
lowed, 1747-8, Nicholas received at the Sandusky villages, on two 
occasions, a party of Englishmen from Philadelphia, and allowed 
his people to trade with them. Soon after this, Nicholas received 
belts and other tokens of friendship from the English. These 
things came to the ear of M. de Longueuil, and he lost no time in 
asking instructions from Quebec. 

On the 14th of January, 1748, Nicholas sent fourteen of his 
warriors to Detroit to ask for the release of the three remaining 
Indians captured at Bois Blanc Island. M. de Longueuil, wishing 
to secure N icholas as an ally, granted his request, and the prisoners 
were released. 

In February, 1748, French soldiers relmilt and again occupied the 
/ • post on the Miami. The same month. La Joncaire, Governor of 
Canada, ordered M. de Longueuil to give Nicholas notice that no 
English traders would be allowed among his people^ or in the West- 
ern country; and if any were found, they should receive notice to 
quit forthwith. Agreeable to these instructions, a French officer 
was sent to Sandusky, who notified Nicholas of the wishes of the 
Governor of Canada. Finding several English at the towns, the 
officer commanded them to leave the country, which they promised 
to do. 

Finding himself deserted by nearly all of his allies, his power for 
mischief gone, and the activity and determination of the French to 
suffer encroachments from the English no longer, Nicholas finally 
resolved to abandon his towns on Sandusky Bay and seek a home 
farther west. On the 7th of April, 1748, he destroyed the villages 



I//'/ Ji'riiinri'.s IIV.s/. lf> 



and fort and on the following day, at the head of one hundred and 
ninctci'ii warriors, ajul th<ir lainilics, left for the Wliite river in 
Indiana. Soon alter he moved with his jicople to the Illinois 
country, locating on the Ohio, near the Indiana line, where he died, 
m the fall of 1748. 

The stern, unyielding conduct of M. de Longueuil toward most 
of the tribes who had been engaged in the cons|)iracy, produced the 
desired effect. By the 1st of May, 1748, the power of the league 
had been utterly annihilated, and nearly every nation forced to sue 
lor peace. This result was not produced by the sword. The with- 
holding of supplies, the prohiljition of traders, the reduction of the 
savages to want not only of provisions but of powder and ball, did 
much toward humbling their desire for war. In June, a proclama- 
tion was issued by the Governor of Canada, granting pardon to all 
the tribes engaged in the conspiracy, excepting the Mississagues and 
Sauteurs. Those nations had committed offences which could not 
be overlooked without punishment These exceptions were after- 
wards withdrawn, and peace was established in the Northwest The 
French, however, for several years, looked with distrust upon the 
" rebels,'' as they were called. The Detroit Ilurons were sulky, and 
not inclined to carry the yoke the French placed upon their shoul- 
ders. They had formerly enjoyed every privilege ; no obstructions 
l)eing i)laced in their way. Now they were subjected to military 
rule. In the general orders of tin- ]io«t at Detroit, dnn.' ^M. 174m. 
we find the following: 

"Should any Huron, or other w\n:\, be so daring as U) enter the 
fort without a pass, through sheer bravado, 'twould be pi"o)>i'r to 
arrest him and put him to death on the spot." 

Similar orders were issued at all French pr.sts in the North- 
west. These harsh, but necessary measures, had their lessons, and 
the Indians became as quiet and peaceable as ever. Thus rnded the 
conspiracy of Nicholas. Tin- Miamis were fully in the plot, and 
performed the part assigned them by the capture and destruction of 
Fort Miami, as it was then known, at the confluence of the St. 
Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers. 

In 1746, the Mar<|Mi3 de Vaudreuil advocated the erection of a 
French post at the Falls of the Ohio, At this tinn* the English 
were operating between the mouth of the ('uyahoga anil "Sandus- 
ket." The celebrated (Jeorge Croghan* had a house at the Cuyahoga, 
and did an extensive business with the tribes along the lake. 



!/ 



20 Fort Miami Behuilt. 



When the conspiracy of Nicholas had been crushed, Fort Miami 
was rebuilt and occupied by the French under Sieur Dubuisson. In 
May, 1748, Captain de Celeron left Montreal for. Detroit, with a 
convoy of arras, ammunition, goods and provisions. The Governor 
of Pennsykania sent Conrad Weisser to Logstown with a large sup- 
ply of presents, to secure the friendship of the Ohio Indians. At 
this time the French were considering the practicability of building 
a fort " on Lake Erie, below Detroit," when a treaty of peace was 
signed at Aix-la-Chapelle. By the terms of this treaty, Commis- 
sioners were to be appointed to run a boundary line between the 
French and English possessions in America, but nothing seems to 
have been done in the premisses. On the 3d of October, 1748, Gov- 
ernor Clinton, of New York, addressed a communication to the 
Duke of Bedford. The following is an extract : " I am informed 
that all the numerous nations to the westward of the English colo- 
nies are exceedingly dissatisfied with the French; that they have 
killed several of the French traders, and had blocked up the small 
forts the French had amongst them, and killed several of their 
soldiers. This was owing to the English selling goods more than 
one-half cheaper than the French did, and by the French endeavor- 
ing to hinder the Indians from trading with the English." This 
refers to the conspiracy of Nicholas. 

In October, 1748, Count de La Galissonniere wrote to M. de Lon- 
gueuil, commandant at Detroit, that " though we be at peace, every 
attempt of the English to settle at Eiver a la Eoche (Maumee), 
White river, and Ohio river, or any of their tributaries, must be 
resisted by force." Not long after this a party under Captain de 
Celeron, forced the English to leave Sandosket and the Cuyahoga. 

During this year (1748), a treaty was made with the Twigtwees, 
or Miamis, at Luncaster, Pennsylvania, by which they allied them- 
selves to the English, and agreed to protect such traders as might be 
sent among them. The same year, Thomas Lee, who was connected 
with the provisional government of Virginia, formed a design of 
effecting a settlement on the wild lands west of the Allegheny 
Mountains. His plans were cordially approved by the Executive 
Council of Virginia. Lee associated himself with twelve Virginians, 
among whom were Lawrence and Augustine Washington, brothers 
of George. Washington, and a Mr. Hanbury, of London, and formed 
the " Ohio Land Company.'-' The following year (1749), they 
obtained from King George XL a grant of five hundred thousand acres 



De Celeroiis lunmUi'unt. 21 



of land situated on both sides of the Ohio, but principally on the 
Virj^inia side between tfif- Mononjialiela and Kanawlia. 

Dnrini; the year 1749, Captain de Celeron oondncted an expedition 
into the "bhio country, to formally take possession of the territory. 
in the name of the King of the French. lie buried leaden plates 
alont: the Ohio river, visited the interi<.r of the country, held con- 
ferences with the Indian tribes, and faithfully performed the duties 
of his mission. In August, Captain Celeron discovered an English 
trading colony at an old Shawanese town on the Ohio, near the 
Muskingum. The traders were permitted to Icav. on thr^ir promise 
never to return. 

From that place Celeron wrote to the Governor ol i'ennsylvania: 
'^ To warn him that if any English traders should thereafter m;ike 
their appearance on the Ohio river, they would be treated without 
any delicacy." 

During this year, also, mmy interesting events took place. In 
August, Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, sent George Croghan 
to the Ohio Indians with a message, informing them that war had 
ceased betw(>en the French and English, and to inquire the reason 
of Captain Celeron's march through their country. 

We have noticed a treaty of amity and friendship made in IMS 
between the English and Twigtwees. Desirous of maintair.ing and 
preserving the relations established, the colony of Pennsylvania, in 
the Fall of IT.IO, lent its aid to the planting of a company ot traders 
among its new aUies. Late in that year a party of twenty-live pt-r- 
sons from Eastern Pennsylvania, built a station on the Great Miami, 
at thf mouth of what is now known as Loraraie's Creek, sixteen miles 
northwest of Sidney, Shelby county. It was called Pickawillany, 
after a distinguished chief of the Twigtwees. Before Spring, a 
block house and several stores and dwellings were erected. The 
place prospered, the traders did a flourishing business, and success 
had seemingly attended the efforts of the Pennsylvanians, when an 
occasion happened which gave umbrage to the French. 

In the Summer of 17.")1. three or four French soldiers, who hid 
deserted, delivered themselves to the English at Pickawillany. The 
Twigtwees, who had long suftered from the French and their Indian 
allies, wanted th" three deserters delivered to them for purposes of 
revenge. The English would not consent to this, l)nt w. re obliged, 
in order to save their lives, to send them to an Engli^h })ost on the 



22 Fort Pickawillany. 

Muskingum, where they were delivered to George Croghan. When 
the French heard that deserters from their service were received and 
protected at Pickawillany, the Governor of Candida determined upon 
the destruction of that post. A force under Sieur de Joncaire, was 
sent, but was obliged to return to Detroit from difficulties niet with 
in the wilderness. In May, 1752, another party left Detroit on the 
same mission. The French and tlieir allies numbered about two 
hundred and fifty men. On the 21st of June, at early morn, they 
reached Pickawillany, and at once began the attack. A skirmish 
took place, in which one Englishman and fourteen Twigtwees were 
killed. The place, after some further resistance, was surrendered, 
and a general plunder of the houses followed. Some of tiie huts 
were razed to the ground ; the fort, or block house was left stand- 
ing. The English traders were sent to Canada, but tradition says 
few of them reached, there. 

The Twigtwee King, " Old Britain," was killed and eaten in the 
presence of his conquered people. In the following year the Gover- 
nors of Pennsylvania and Virginia sent presents and messages of 
condolence to the Twigtwee nation. 

Kecurring to the order of years, we are brought back to 1750. 

During that year, English traders were a second time expelled from 
the Cuyahoga. A party of French from Detroit built Fort Junandat, 
on the east bank of the Sandusky river, near the bay. Fort Char- 
tres was also rebuilt. About this time Luke Arowin, of Pennsyl- 
vania, Joseph Fortener, of New Jersey, and Thomas Borke, traders, 
were captured near Fort Janandat. John Pathen, an English 
trader, was arrested near Fort Miami. All of these were sent to 
Canada, thence to France. The Governor of Canada, upon learn- 
ing the facts, wrote to the Governor of New York, complaining that 
" the English, far from confining themselves within the limits of the 
King of Great Britain's possessions, not satisfied with multiplying 
themselves more and more on Rock river, with liaving houses and 
open stores there, have, more than that, proceeded within sight of 
Detroit, even unto the Fort of the Miamis.'' Soon after, the Gov- 
ernor urged upon the French Ministry the great importance, and 
the benefits to be derived from holding the Ohio and its tributaries. 
Desiring to put an end to the influence of the English, sundry 
rewards were offered for the scalps of traders found on French 
territory. 



Pickavolllany Ucatroytd. 23 



A nuniljer of PhihidL-lpliia ;iml LaiicasliT traders explored the 
Ohio to the IlliiioLs country, and on their return furnished VHluable 
inlorniation to Lewis Evans tor his map nf the Western country. 
The Ent^Iish this year made thi-ir way into the N'cnaiif^o country, 
and on Heaver Creek, while the French e.srai)lished trading posts on 
the Huron, at its moutii, and at "Ogontz," on tlie site of Sandusky 
city. In 1752, Christopher Gist was aopointed surveyor of the 
(Miio Company, and at his suggestion a trading post was established 
during the Fall of that year, at a point somewhat east of Pickawillany, 
which had been destroyed by the French during the Summer. It 
did not continue long; for the traders, learning of an intended 
visit from the French, hastily gathered up their goods and proceeded 
eastward. The site of this post can not now be determined. 



FURTHER REG.\RDING POST '' PICKAWILLANY," AXD ITS DESTRUC- 
TION IN 17.52. 

[In 1870-71, the late Mr. A. T. Goodman, then Secretary of the 
Wfstern Reserve Historical Society, at Cleveland, was successful, 
througli lion. John Loth rop Motley, Minister at the Court of St. 
James, in obtaining certain valuable historical pipers relating to the 
British trading post Pickawillany, which was attacked and destroyed 
by the Freiicli in 17.">2. An aiuilysis of those papers was made bv 
Mr. Goodman, and published in 1S71, by Robert Clarke & Co., of 
Cincinnati, in a volume entitled, "Journal of Captain Trent.'' The 
wriU'r avails himself of the material points embraced in this volume, 
as the principal of them belong to the history of the Maumee 
Valley. I 

For many years prior to the advent of Indian traders in the West, 
the Miamis had a village on the west side of the Great Miami river, 
.it the mouth of what afterward became known as Loramie's Creek. 
That point was visited by the Conrcnrs des Dots, or Canadian voya- 
gers, who traveled under the direction of the traders, at an early 
day, and had Ix^come a place of note long previous to the alliance of 
the Miamis with the Kngli.>;h. From the latter, it received the ?iame 
of " Tdiri.r/n'i /o«v/," until the building of a slockad-'. when it was 
called rirkaiciUnnii, thf)ngh in some accounts we find the name 
" Picktovn''^ applied to it. 



24 PichawiUany Destroyed. 

English traders dealt witli the Miamis at an early period, even 
while the latter were ,fnlly pledged to French interests. The Penn- 
sylvania factors seem to have been special ftivoiites, for they sold 
their goods at half the price asked by the Coiirenrs des Bois. This 
was a matter of importance to the Indians, and, donbtless, had much 
to do with the subsequent friendly alliance with the English. 

During the Summer of 1749, M. de Celeron visited the Tawixtwii 
town, but found no traders there, they having had timely notice of 
his coming, and departed with their goods and chattels. The 
Miami Avarriors were in force at the time of Celeron's visit, and that 
officer did no injury. On the contrar}^ he treated them with kind- 
ness and attention. Presents were given, and the usual speeches 
made, but the Indians withstood his arts and artifices, and remained 
friendly to the English. While the English traders felt safe in the 
hands of the Miamis, they were in constant fear of the French.. 
•Occasionally an unfortunate trader became a victim. The di'ead of 
such a fate was increased by the fact that the Ottawas were known 
to '• kill, roast and eat'' their English captives. The Miamis shared 
this feeling, as several of their best warriors had fallen into the 
enemy's hands. The need of a strong post was felt, which would 
afford better protection than the ordinary houses of the traders. It 
was some time, however before the Indians would allow the erection 
of such a structure. 

In Pennsylvania, licenses to trade with the Indians were granted 
by the Grovernor, upon the recommendation of the iustices of tb.e 
counties in which the applicant resided. The traders' goods were 
carried on pack-horses, along the old Indian trails, which led to all 
the principal towns and villages. The articles of traffic on the part 
of the whites were fire-arms, gunpowder, lead, l)al], knives, flints, 
hatcliets, rings, rum, tobacco, medals, blades, leather, cooking uten 
sils, shirts, and other articles of wearing apparel : pipes, paint, etc. 
Some of the traders would run )'egular " caravans '' of fifteen or 
y^ twenty horses, making several trips during the year. It is impossible 
to give any definite account of the extent of this traffic, but it must 
luivc amounted to great value. 

Having obtained permission from the Indians, the English, in the 
Fall of 1750, began the erection of a stockade, as a place of protec- 
tion, in case of suddeji attack, both for their persons and property. 
When the main' building was completed, it was surrounded with a 



Ptter Loi'dtnie and his Sfution. 2') 



\\\g\\ Willi of split lo^^s, liavjn<^ three gate-ways. Within the inclo- 
8ure the traderd tliig a well, which furnished an al)undant sujiply of 
fresh water during the fall, winti-r and spring. \n\\ failed in 
suniinrr. 

At this time I'ickawillany contained four hundn-d Indian families, 
and was (he residence of the principal chief of the Miami Confedera- 
cy. Christopher Gist was there in Fehruary, 17.") 1. utid in his puh- 
lished journal, says the ])lace was daily increasing, and accounted 
•' one of the strongest towns on tliis continent.'' 

In several contemporary j>apers we hnd it stated that the fort at 
IMckawillany was built of stone. If this was the case, remains of 
the structure ought yet to he visible, liut we are informed, on good 
anthoritv. that no traces of the kind are to be found in the neiffh- 
borhood of the mouth of Loramie's Creek. This statement ol Mr. 
Gist, however, may widl be (|uesti(»ned, although ample evidence 
exists in support of the conclusion that it was a populous and 
flourishing town, and the centre of a large Indian trade, liut more 
than a century previous, seats of a larger trade, probably, existed 
u]>on the Maumee river. 

In December. John Patten was sent by the Governor of Pennsyl- 
vania to learn the intentions of the Miamis, and it appears he report- 
ed them as "gone over to the French." At this time most of the / 
English traders abandoned the Ohio trade. Pickawillany was 
wholly deserted by them. Not long after, the P'reneh commandant 
at V'incennes. deeming the location a good one. sent some traders 
to the pl.ii-e, an«l made .i treaty of concord and friemlship with the 
Miamis. lavishing upon tlicni a very large amoimt of tnonev, and a 
great variety of costly presents. The place, however, did not pos- 
.sess enterprise or spirit, an<l was not widely known as a trading post 
until 17(51). when a Canadian French trader, named Peter Loramie. 
established a store there. He was a man of energy, and a good 
hater of the Americans. For many years he exercised great intlu- 
cuce among the Indians. Alter his arrival, the place was called 
■' Loramies Station." During the li(!VoIuiiiMi. Loramie was in full 
fellowship with the British. Many a savage incnnsion to the border 
was tilted out from his .supply of war material. .So noted had his 
place become as the headijuarters ot' .spies, emiss:iries. and .savage 
borderers, that (General (ieorge Kogers Clarke, of Kentucky, re- 
solved to pay it a visit : which he did. with .i large parly of Ken- 
tiickians, in the Fall of Xl^^'^. The post was taken by surpri»e. an<l 



26 Joncaire on the Maumee. 

Loramie narrowly escaped being made prisoner. His store was 
rilled of its contents, and burned to the ground, as were all the 
other habitations in the A'icinity. Poor Loramie shortly afterward 
removed with a party of Shawnese to a spot near the junction of 
the Kansas and Missouri, where he closed his days. The site of Picka- 
willany and Loramie's Station has never been rebuilt. 

The hostility of the French against the Twigtwees, awakened a 
bitter feeling from the latter Two Frenchmen near the Ohio were 
murdered in cold blood. The English this year (1752) stationed 
themsL'lVes on the Vermillion river, and a trader named John 
Fi'azier built a cabin upon French Creek, near the Ohio. During 
the Summer a council was held with the Delawai'e, Shawanese, and 
other Ohio tribes, at Logstown, when the Indians promised Colonel 
Joshua Fry and other English Commissioners, that they would not 
molest any settlements made on the southeast side of the Ohio, 

In 1753, a large body of French from Canada moved to the south- 
west, and erected forts Presque Isle, on the site of Erie, Pennsylva- 
nia ; La Boeuf, on French Creek, and Venango, on the Allegheny 
river. In April of that year, M. Joncaire was sent, with a small 
detachment of regulars, and a number of friendly Senecas, to visit 
the Indians on the Ohio and its branches. When Joncaire reached 
the Miamis, he marched into their towns with great ceremony. The 
Indians were frightened, and promised again " to become the chil- 
dren of the French." Joncaire assured them of protection, and 
succeeded in inducing a large number to accompany him to the fort 
on the Maumee. C:iptain Trent was sent to the Ohio from Virginia 
with powder, shot, guns and clothing for Indians friendly to the 
British. 

The English, iu September, represented by William Fairfax, met 
the Indians of Eastern Ohio, in council at Winchester, Virginia, and 
made a treaty of peace and friendship. A like covenant was enter- 
ed into at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, between Pennsylvania Commil^- 
sioners and the Iroquois, Delawares, Shawanese, TwigtAvees and 
WyaMdots. With -great foresight, Governor De Lancey, of New 
Yoik. recommended to the English Lords of Trade the building of 
two strong forts on the Ohio, o-n' in Pennsylvania, the other in 
Virginia. While the •' Lords " were dreaming Qver the proposition, 
the French look advantage of the situation. 

Learning of the operations of M. DuquesuH, Governor Dinwiddle, 
of Virginia, despatched George Washington with a letter to Fort 



JJriti-<Ji (Uhl hiwnch Jt^almisies. 27 



\,v Hocuf. apprisini; "SI. <li' St ricrre. tlir l-'rciidi cDimnainlcr, tliat 
he w.iH intViiiijiiicj on Knglish territory, ami rt'(|uiriiit; " liis jn-acrahlc 
.l(>]>artnr('." No attention was paid to liiis modest demand. 

Altlinii._rli war between France and Kntrland was not declared 
imti! the year lT.">n. the conflict actually bci^an in 17")4. I)nrin<i 
that vcir \'iririni.'» appropriated ^fjd.dOo for the snpport of State 
troops, and other colonies were as liheral in their measures of de- 
fence and supfdy. Karly in the season the French took possession 
of the site of TittshnrL'. and erected thereon Fort Dii<|uesne. They 
securetl the friendship <»f the lndi:iiis livinLT on the Scioto, who 
proved of Lireat service to their masters. In April. Alajor George 
\Vashin<jrton and Colonel Joshua Fry, witli six hundred Virginians. 
marche<l tlirough IVnnsylvania for the Ohio, having in view the 
erection of a p«ist. .md the expulsion of the French They built Fort 
Necessity, and shortly afterward defeated near there, a French force 
under Sieur de Jumonville, who, with thirty five of his soldiers, was 
slain. A larcre partv of French now besieged Fort Necessity, 
which was compelletl to surrender with Major Washington and five 
hundred men. After this event, the French erected Fort Machault 
above Fort Venango. During the month of July. I7.'>4. a ]dan of 
confederation was formed by a Colonial Convention, at Albany It 
was rejected by the assemblies as too frn'sforni/i(\ and liy the Eng- 
lish Lords of Tr.-ide becaiise it was too fhm'n-rofi- . A plan for the 
eKtablishment of colonies in the West, was published this year. Ity 
the celebrated Dr. Franklin. Among other recoinmendaiions. he 
a<lvocated the building of stronix fortresses in the Ohio country. 
One (if these h<' sugi;ested should be located at the mouth of the 
Cuyahoga, on Lake Erie. The French, how«'Ver. had already occti- 
pied that point by the establisliment of a trading post among the 
Mingoes, who lived on the river. This post probably began 17">L 
as the F^nglish were driven off in IToO. an<l the French had had the 
pl.ace in view for some time. One of their tra<ling houses was 
located on the left bank of the Cuyahoga, about ten miles from its 
mouth. an<l a little aV)ove the mouth of Tinkers C'reek. 

The dinieultics in America eontinut'd into the year ITri"). In 
January of that year, the Fn-nch King nnidi- a jjroposition to the 
Hritsh Government, to settle i\\\ grievances, by restoring the Western 
country to the same condition it was in before thi* hilc war — 174o. 
On the a-^d cd' January, the English n-plird. ihiit tin- W.-sr of Xorth 
America must be l-ft as it was IkHm-l the |>eace f'i ri.reciit. Oji 



28 English and French Hostilities. 



February 6fch, France answering said, that the eld claims in America 
were untenable, and offered as a compromise that the English 
retire east of the Alleghenies, and the French remain west of the 
Ohio river. On the 7th of March, the English agreed to the French 
offer of compromise, providing the latter destroyed all forts on the 
Ohio and its branches. This the French Monarch declined to do, 
and the negotiations ended. 

In May, 1756, England declared war against France, and the latter 
followed with a like declaration in June. 

The Newport (Rhode Island) Mercury, of December, 1758, con- 
tained the following : 

New York, December 1.3th, 1758. 
Early on Monday morning last, an express arrived here from the 
westward, and brought sundry letters, which gave an account that 
General Forbes was in possession of Fort Du Quesne. One of these 
letters says, that the Monsieurs did not stay for the approach of our 
army, but blew up the fort, spiked their cannon, threw them into 
the river, and made the best of their way off, carrying with them 
everything valuable, except the spot where the fort stood. And 
yesterday another express arrived here with other letters confirming 
the foregoing, and directed from the fort itself; the most particular 
of which arc as follows, viz : 

Fort Du Quesne, November 26th, 1758. 

I have now the pleasure to write you from the ruins of the fort. 
On the 24th, at night, we were informed by one of our Indian 
scouts, that he had discovered a cloud of smoke above the place ; and 
soon after another came in with certain intelligence that it was burnt 
and abandoned by the enemy. We were then about fifteen miles 
from it. A troop of horse was sent forward immediately, to extin- 
guish the burning, and the whole army followed. We arrived at six 
o'clock last night, and found it in a great measure destroyed. 

There are two forts about twenty yards distant — the one built 
with immense labor; small, but a great deal of very strong works 
collected into little room, and stands on the point of a narrow neck 
of laud, at the confluence of the two rivers. It is square, and has 
two ravelins, gabions at each corner, etc. The other fort stands on the 
l)ank of the Allegheny, in the form of a parallelogram, but nothing 
so strong as the other. Several of the outworks are lately begun, 



Re/irard ojfered for In Audi Scalps, 29 



and still untinisla'il. There are, 1 think, thirty stacks of chimneys 
.■standing, but the houses are all destroyed. They sprung a mine, 
which ruined one of their magazines; in the otiier we found sixteen 
harn-ls ot ammunition, a prodigious (|uantity of old carriage iron, 
liarrel.s of guns, about a cart-load of scalping knives, etc. They went 
otf in so much haste that they could not make quite the havoc of their 
works they intended. We are told by the Indians that they lay the 
night before at Beaver Creek, about forty miles down the Ohio from 
here. WlietlKr they buried their cannon in tiie river, or carried 
them down in their batteau.x, we have not yet learnt. A boy 12 years 
old, who has been their prisoner two years, and made his escajie 
the /Jd instant, tells us they had carried a prodigious quantity of 
wood into the fort ; that they had burnt five of the prisoners they 
took at Major Grant's defeat, on the i)arade, and delivered others to 
the Indians, who were tomahawked on the spot. Wt. found numl)ers 
of bodies within a (juarter of a mile of the fort, unburietl — so many 
monuments of French humanity I A great many Indians, mostly 
Dt.'lawares, were 'jathered on the Island last night and this morning, 
to treat with the General, and we are making rafts to bring them 
over. Whether the General will think of repairing the ruins, or 
leaving any of the troops here, I have not yet learnt. Mr. Beatie 
is appointed to preach a thankstrivini.'" sfrmon for the superi(»rity of 
bis majesty's arms. 

During the same year, the Legislature of rennsylvania passeil an 
act to encour.'ige settlements in the West, while the \'irginia Assem- 
bly offered a price of ten pounds sterling for the scalp of every 
hostile Indian over twelve years of age. The English sent Commis- 
sioners to the Delaware.s and Shawanese in Ohio, for the purpose of 
detaching those tribes from their alliance with the Frencii. The 
effort failed. 

In lTr)9, ^M, de Viiudreuil, Governor o;' C!anada reported to tin- 
French Ministry, "that M. de Ligneris has had orders to remain at 
Fort Machiiult, on the Ohio: 1st, to support the Nations; ::2d, to 
annoy the English ; 3d, to force them to a diversion ; 4th, to cover 
Lak<- Erie and lorce the enemy to march only with an army, which 
would entail consideral)le prejjarations, whence arises serious dilli- 
culties for victualling of all sorts in a country where the ground is 
eai)al)le of l)eing defended inch by inch. The scarcity of j)rovisii)ns, 
l)revailing in the colony, has determined me to send orders to the 
Illinois and Detroit to forward to Presque Isle all the men these two 



80 Cupidity of French. Officers. 
\ 

forts can furnish." After receiving this communication, M. de 
Ligneris visited the Indians along the Ohio, and obtained a promise 
from them "to phice limits to the ambition of the English." At 
the request of the Shawanese on the Scioto, Ligneris appointed M. 
Hertel, an influential trader, as French agent among them. 

The activity of Sir William Johnson caused an early abandon- 
ment of Fort Venango. The Delawares were also brought to 
English terms, and delivered to Johnson five prisoners taken by 
them on the borders, viz : James Perry, Robert Wilsoi. Elizabeth 
Armstrong, Catharine Hiltz, and a Highland soldier. Il, was now 
(1759), that French power in the West showed signs of an early 
overthrow. Disaster upon disaster happened. Marquis de Mont- 
calm reported to his government that "' Cupidity has seized officers, 
store-keepers and traders on the Ohio and elsewhere, and 'hey are 
amassing astonishing fortunes." 

Early in the year the French built a small post at Up 
on the Great Miami river. A year or two later a party of ^a^h 
traders and Indians attempted its capture, but were defeated, with 
great loss. In June, it was reported to the Governor of Canada 
that " The Cherokees have allowed them to be gained by the presents 
of the English, so that above and below the Beautiful river, (Ohio,) 
we need not flatter ourselves with finding any allies among the 
Indians.'' 

During the same month, (June, 1 759,) three hundred French 
soldiers and militia, and six hundred Indians marched fro' ^' 
Illinois country for Fort Machault. The route taken was doi 
Mississippi to the Ohio, up the Ohio to the Wabash, and thei 
that river to the portage at Fort Miami. From that poin 
stores were carried to the Maumee, down the Maumee to Lake 
and along the southern shore to Presque Isle; thence it 
Machault. There they joined the forces of M. de Ligneri 
marched to Fort Niagara, for the relief and reinforcement 
Pouchot, who was besieged by English and Indians unut. Sir 
William Johnson. On the 24th of July this relief force was t )tal]y 
defeated near the fort by Johnson. On the 25th Niagara surrender- 
ed, when the Indian allies of the English massacred in cold blood a 
large number of the Illinois French. In September, Quebec was 
taken, and the following month, Fort Massiac abandoned. The 
year closed under disheartening circumstances to the French. 



JU'jH'fUtMii of Major Jtoyvrs. M 



Early in KOO, the Governor of C'juiadii ordered Fort Massiac to 
!)(' rel)iiilt and strongly fortilied ; he also liad erected a military post 
at Kuskaskia, Illinois. Four Knj^lish traders were killed near Fort 
Massiar, and M. Hertel, who had maintained his ground among the 
Indians on the Sciota, reported that numerous English prisoners 
from Carolina were brought to him hy the savages. Though they 
seemed friendly, Hertel recommended an early removal of the Sciot<> 
Indians to a point near Fi)rt Massiac. During the spring the Missis- 
sagut'S, )"7ng on Lake Erir, near Presque Isle, joined the French at 
Detroii. jAtiaii'S in the West were assuming a brighter aspect for 
the French, when disasters m Carolina produced an entire revulsion. 
The Governor is.sued an order directing the atjandonment of all jiosts 
on the (•)hio. Agreealdy to this, they were destroyed, and the garri- 
sons rwfired with provisions, arms, artillery, ammunition, etc., to 
Detn 1 narrating this event to the French Ministry, the Gover- 

nor t -. y.j .V" t''® nations on the Beautiful river, (Ohio,) witnessed 
with , v.-w the departure oi the French. Chevalier de Portneuf 
sent t.^em a message, especially the Ciiaouonions, to engage them to 
persevere in their g<^<>d intentions." 

The English, in KGO, were active and vigilant. A party at Fort 
I'itt constructed several small batteaux, in which they sailed down 
the Ohio, and took notes of the islands in that river and the streams 
that 'emjity into it. Among this party was 'LMiomas llutchins, the 
famous geographer. Dr. Thomas Walker, of Pennsylvania, aFso 
l)asi»ed down that river into Kentucky. During the summer (1760), 
Cannla surrendered to the English, and in September, Majitr Robert 
Uo^ is was sent West to take possession of Detroit, and other 
Fr(a->eh ports along the lakes. Jle left Montreal on the loth i»f 
Sit; J?mber, 1T'!0, and, on the Sth of October, reached Pres<|ue Isle, 
wlfei-e Bouquet commanded. He then went slowly up Lake Erie to 
Def lit, wliich place he summoned to yield itself on the 19th of 
No aiiber. While waiting for an answer from this demand, he wa.s 
v' 1 by the givat Ottawa chieftain. Poiitiae, who demanded how 
the iSiTglish dared enter his country ; to which answer was given, that 
they»came, not to enter the country, but to open a free way of trade, 
and to expel the French, who interrupted their trade. This reply, 
together with other moderate and kindly word.'j. spoken by Rogers, 
seemed to lull the rising fears of the savages, and Pontiac promised 
him bis j)rf)tection. I^-leter. tneantime, who commanded at Detroit, 
had not yielded ; nay. wonl was brought to Rogers on the :24th, ti)at 



32 Major Rogern on tlie Maumee, &c. 

his messenger had been confined tmd a flag-pole erected, with a 
wooden head upon it, to represent Biitain, on which stood a crow 
picking the eyes out, — as em-blematic of the success of France. In 
a few days, however, the commander heard of the fate of the lower 
posts ; and, as his Indians did not stand by him on the 29th, he 
yielded. Eogers remained at Detroit until December 2.jd, under the 
personal i)rotectiou of Pontiac, to whose presence he probably owed 
his safety. 

From Detroit the Major went to the Maumee, and thence across 
the present State of Ohio to Fort Pitt ; and his journal of this 
overland trip is the first we have of such an one in that region. His 
route was nearly that given by Hutchins, in Bouquet's expedition, 
as the common one from Sandusky to the Fork of the Ohio. It 
went from Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, crossed the 
Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to '' Mohickon John's 
Town," upon what we know as Mohicon Creek, the northern branch 
of "White Woman's river, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a 
Delaware town, on the west side of the " Maskongan Creek," oppo- 
site "a fine river," which, from Hutchins' map, we presume was 
Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town was one hundred and eighty 
warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of cleared land. 
From there the track went up Sandy Creek and across to the Big 
Beaver, and up the Ohio, through Logstown, to Fort Pitt, which 
place Rogers reached January 23d, 1760, precisely one month having 
passed while he was upon the way. 

In the spring of 1761, Alexander Henry, an English trader, went 
to Michillimacinac for purposes of business, and he found every- 
where the strongest feeling against the English, who had done 
nothing by word or act to conciliate the Indians. Having, by means 
.of a Ca7iadian dress, managed to reach Michillimacinac in safety, he 
was there discovered, and waited upon by an Indian chief, who 
was, in the opinion of Thatcher, Pontiac himself. This chief, after 
conveying to him the idea that his French father would soon awake 
and utterly destroy his enemies, continued : 

" Englishman ! although you have conquered the French, you 
have not yet conquered us! We are not your slaves! These lakes, 
these woods, these mountains, were left to us by our ancestors. 
They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to non^. 
Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live 



^wrender of the FrenaTi Postg, S3 

without bread, and pork and beef. But you ought to know that 
He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us 
upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." 

Before the close of the year, Detroit, Michillimacinae, Sandusky, 
Presque Isle, Miami, Green Bay, St. Joseph, and other French posts, 
passed under conti'ol of the English, who guaranteed security of 
person, property and religion, to all French inhabitants of the 
conquered territory. It was at this time that French dominion 
virtually ceased over the Ohio country. 

M. Dumas addressed a Memoir on Canada to the King of France. 
Anticipating an early treaty of peace, he urged that monarch to 
"insist strongly on the entire possession of the Ohio river, as it 
affords a passage to the Mississippi, and thence to the sea." He also 
expressed the hope, that Lake Erie would be held, as by that lake 
and the Miami and Wabash, another passage is provided for the 
Mississippi. He further said : " The entire possession of Lake Erie 
ought to belong to France, incontestably, up to the head waters of 
the streams that empty into the lake on the south side; the rivers 
flowing toward the Ohio are included in the neutrality proposed for 
that river." 

This season, Sir William Johnson made a journey from Niagara to 
Detroit, along the southern shore of Lake Erie. He encamped for 
a time at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, where Cleveland now stands. 

During the year 1762, the terms of a treaty of peace were agreed 
upon between France and England. The former made a secret 
covenant 'with Spain, conveying to that nation the territory of 
Louisiana, which embraced a large portion of Western America. 
Early in 1763, peace was effected between the belligerent powers in 
America. By the treaty that year, France surrendered her posses- 
sions in North America to the English. The Ohio country passed 
under the control of the oflBcials of that Empire, and for some 
years affairs there and in the far West, were managed by army 
officers, commandants of posts on the frontiers. 

The Moravian Loskiel relates that in the villages of the Hurons, 
or Wyaudots, on the Sandusky, the traders were so numerous in 
1763, that the Indians were afraid to attack them openly, and had 
recourse to the following stratagem : They told their unsuspecting 
victims hat the surrounding tribes had risen in arms, and were 
soon coming that way, bent on killing every Englishman they could 

4 



34 Pontiac's Conspiracy. 



find. The Wyaudots averred that they would gladly protect their 
friends, — the white men, — but that it would be impossible to do so, 
unless the latter would consent, for the sake of appearances, to 
become their prisoners. In this case, they said, the hostile Indians 
would refrain from injuring them, and they should be set at liberty 
as soon as the danger was past. The traders fell into the snare. 
They gave up their arms, and the better to carry out the deception, 
even consented to be bound; but no sooner was this accomplished, 
than their treacherous counsellors murdered them all in cold blood. 

The years 1763 and 1764 are memorable in W . ^^ history by 
reason of their having been marked by the formidable coalition of 
the Indian nations, extending from the northern lakes to the fron- 
tiers of North Carolina, organized with the object to fall upon the 
whole line of British posts, and annihilate the white inhabitants. 
Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares and 
Mingoes, for the time, laid by their old hostile feelings, and united 
under Pontiac in this great enterprise. The voice of that sagacious 
and noble man, (says James H. Perkins, in his '' Western Annals,") 
was heard in the distant North, crying, " Why," says the Great 
Spirit, " do you suffer these dogs in red clothing to enter your 
country and take the land I have given you ? Drive them from it! 
Drive them ! When you are in distress I will help you." 

That voice was heard, but not by the whites. The unsuspecting 
traders journeyed from village to village; the soldiers in the forts 
shrunk from the sun of the early summer, and dozed away the ihiy ; 
the frontier settler, singing in fancied security, sowed his croj^, o-, 
watching the sunset through the girdled trees, mused upon one 
more peaceful harvest, and told his children of the horrors of the 
ten years' war, now, thank God ! over. From the Alleghenies to 
the Mississippi the trees had leaved, and .ill was calm life and joy. 
But through that great country, even then, biinds of sullen red men 
were journeying from the central valleys to the lakes and the eastern 
hills. Ottawas filled the woods near Detroit. The Maumee post, 
Presque Isle, Niagara, Pitt, Ligonier. and every English fort was 
hemmed in by Indian tribes, who felt that the great battle drew 
nigh which was to determine their fate and the possession of their 
noble lands. At last the day came. The traders everywhere were 
seized, their goods taken from them, and more than one hundred of 
them put to death. Nine British forts yielded instantly, and the 
savages drank, " scooped up in the hollows of joined hands," the 



Capitulation of Forts Miami and Sandusly. 35 

blood of many a Briton. The border streams of Pennsylvania and 
Virginia ran red again. '* We hear/' says a letter from Fort Pitt, 
"of scalping every hour." In Western Virginia more than twenty 
thousand ])eople were driven from their homes. Mackinac was 
taken by stratagem. 

Following closely the surrender of Mackinac and Onatanon, (the 
latter a fort situated upon the Wabash, just below the present town 
of Lafayette,) came the intelligence that Fort Miami was taken. 
This post, s^""ding at the head of the Maumee river, was commanded 
by Ensign I- "s* and here one cannot but remark on the forlorn 
situation ot these otVicers, isolated in the wilderness, hundreds of 
miles, in some instances, from any congenial associates, separated 
from every human being except the rude soldiers under their com- 
mand, and the white or red savages who ranged the surrounding 
woods. Holmes suspected the intention of the Indians, and was 
therefore on his guard, when, on the 27th of May, a young Indian 
girl, who lived with him, came to inform him that a squaw lay danger- 
ously ill in a wigwam near the fort, and urged liim to come to her 
relief. Having conlidence in the girl, Holmes followed her out of 
the fort. ' Pitched at the edge of a meadow, hidden from view by an 
intervening span of the woodland, stood a great number of Indian 
wigwams. When Holmes came in sight of them, his treacherous 
conductress pointed out that in whicii the sick woman lay. He 
walked on without suspicion ; but, as he drew near, two guns 
flashed from behind the hut, and stretched him lifeless on the grass. 
The shots were heard at the fort, and the sergeant rashly went out 
to learn the reason of the firing. He was immediately taken 
prisoner, amid exulting yells and whoopings. The soldiers in the 
fort climbed upon the palisades to look out, when Godfroy, a Cana- 
dian, together with two other white men, made his appearance, 
and summoned them to surrender, promising that if thev did so 
their lives should be spared, but that otherwise they would all be 
killed without mercy. The men, being in great terror, and without 
a leader, soon threw open the gate and gave themselves up as 
prisoners. 

Sandusky had been attacked by the band of Wyaiidols living in its 
neighborhood, aided by a detachment of their brethren from Detroit. 
Among the few survivors of the slaughter, was the commanding 
of!lcer. Ensign Paully, who had been brought prisoner to Detroit, 
bound hand and toot, and solaced on the pivjsage with the expecta- 



36 Captivity and Escape of Commandant Panlly, 

tion of being burnt alive. On landing near the camp of Pontiac, 
he was snrronuded by a crowd of Indians, chiefly squaws and 
children, who pelted him with stones, sticks and gravel, forcing him 
to dance and sing, though by no means in a cheerful strain. A worse 
infliction seemed in store for him, when, happily, an old woman, 
whose husband had lately died, chose to adopt him in place of the 
deceased warrior. Seeing no alternative but the stake, Paully 
accepted the proposal; and having been first plunged in the river, 
that the white blood might be washed from his veins, he was 
conducted to the lodge of the widow, and treated thenceforth with 
all the consideration due an Ottawa warrior. 

Gladwyn, the commandant at Detroit, soon received a letter from 
him, through one of the Canadian inhabitants, giving a full account 
of the capture of Fort Sandusky. On the IGth of May — such was 
the substance of the communication — Paully was informed that 
seven Indians were waiting at the gate to speak with him. As 
several of the number were well known to him, he ordered them, 
without hesitation, to be admitted. Arriving at his quarters, two of 
the treacherous visitors seated themselves on each side of the 
commandant, while the rest were disposed in various parts of the 
room. The pipes were lighted, and the convention began, when an 
Indian, who stood in the doorway, suddenly made a signal by raising 
his head. Upon this, the astonished officer was instantly pounced 
upon and disarmed; while, at the same moment, a confused noise 
of shrieks and yells, the firing of guns, and the hurried tramp of 
feet, sounded from the area of the fort without. It soon ceased, 
however, and Paully, led by his captors from the room, saw the 
parade ground strewn with the corpses of his murdered garrison. 
At nightfall, he was conducted to the margin of the lake, where 
several birch canoes lay in readiness; and as, amid thick darkness, 
the party pushed out from shore, the captive saw the fort, lately 
under his command, bursting on all sides into sheets of flame. 
Subsequently, during Pontiac's siege of Detroit, a man was discov- 
ered one afternoon about four o'clock, running towards the fort, 
closely pursued by Indians. On his arriving within gun-shot 
distance, they gave over the chase, and the fugitive came panting 
beneath the walls, where a wicket was thrown open to receive him. 
He proved to be the late commandant at Sandusky, who, liaving, as 
before mentioned, been adopted by the Indians, and married to an 



Pit nil 1/ l)i roi'ct-fl from his. Sqatnr, 37 



old s<|U:iw, now seized the first oi)i)urtunity of obtaiuing a suniniary 
divorce, and escaping from her tender embraces. 

For the above interesting circumstances attending the surrender 
of the defences at Forts >rianii and iSandusky, the writer is iu<lebted 
to the vahiable work of Francis Parkman. 

At Detroit, where Pontiac commanded in person, the garrison 
and inhabitants were saved under circumstances simihir to those 
which occurred during the conspiracy of Nichohis, by the timely 
disclosures of an Indian woman. Pontiac had approached Detroit 
without exciting any suspicions in the breast of the governor, or 
the inluibitants. He encamj)ed at a little distance from it, and let 
the commandant know that he was come to trade ; and being de- 
sirous of brightening the chain of peace between the English and 
his nation, desired that he and his chiefs might be admitted to hold 
a council with him. The governor, stili unsuspicious, and not in 
the least doubting the sincerity of the Indians, granted their 
generaPs request, and tixed on the next morning for their reception. 

On the evening of that day, an Indian woman who had been ap- 
pointed by Major Gladwyn to make a pair of Indian shoes, out of 
a curious elk skin, brought them home. The major was so pleased 
with them, that, intending them as a present for a friend, he ordered 
her to take the remainder back, and make it into others for himself. 
He then directed his servant to pay her for those she had done, and 
dismissed her. The woman went to the door that led to the street, 
but no further; she then loitered about as if she had not finished 
the business on which she came. A servant at length observed her, 
and asked her why she staid there? She gave him, however, no 
answer. 

8ome short time after, the governor himself saw her, and inquired 
of his servant what occasioned her stay. Not being able to get a 
satisfactory answer, he ordered the woman to be called in. "When 
she came into his presence, he desired to know the reason of her 
loitering about, and not hastening home before the gates were shut, 
that she might complete in due time the work he had given her to 
do. She told him, after much hesitation, that as he had alw.ays 
behaved with great goodness towards her, she was unwilling to take 
the remainder of the skin, because he put so great a value upon it ; 
and yet had not been able to i)revail upon herself to tell hiiu so. 
lie then asked her why she was more reluctant to do so now than 
she had been when she made the former pair, With increased reluc* 



38 Pontiac Besieges Detroit^ 

tance she answered, that she should never be able to bring them 
back. 

His curiosity was now excited, and he insisted on her disclosing 
the secret that seemed to be struggling in her bosom for utterance. 
At last, on receiving a promise that the intelligence she was about 
to give him should not turn to her prejudice, and thai;, if it proved 
to be beneficial, she should be rewarded for it, she informed him, 
that at the council to be held with the Indians the following day, 
Pontiac and his chiefs intended to murder him ; and, after having 
massacred the garrison and inhabitants, to plunder the town. That, 
for this purpose, all the chiefs who were to be admitted into the 
council-room had cut their guns short, so that they could conceal 
them under their blankets; with which, on a signal given by their 
general, on delivering the belt, they were all to rise up, and 
instantly to fire on him and his attendants. Having effected this, 
thev were immediately to rush into the town, where they would find 
themselves supported by a great number of their warriors, that were 
to come into it during the sitting of the council, under the pretence 
of trading, but privately armed in the same manner. Having 
gained from the woman every necessary particular relative to the 
plot, and also the means by which she acquired a knowledge of 
them, he dismissed her with injunctions of secrecy, and a promise 
of fulfilling on his part with punctuality the engagements he had 
entered into. 

The intelligence the Governor had just received gave him great 
uneasiness; and he immediately consulted the officer who was next 
him in command on the subject. But this gentleman, considering 
the information as a story invented for some artful purpose, advised 
him to pay no attention to it. This conclusion, however, had, 
happily, no weight with him. He thought it prudent to accept it 
as true, till he was otherwise convinced. Therefore, without reveal- 
ing his suspicions to any other person, took every needful precau- 
tion that the time would admit of. He walked around the fort the 
whole night, and saw himself that every sentinel was upon duty, 
and every weapon of defence in proper order. 

As he traversed the ramparts that lay nearest to the Indian camp, 
he heard them in high festivity ; and, little imagining that their 
plot was discovered, probably pleasing themselves with the anticipa- 
tion of their success. As soon as the morning dawned, he ordered 



///.v Crnff Fails. .'^9 



all the j:jarrison under arms, and then imparting his apprehensions 
to a few of tiio principiil olHctTS, gave thcni such tlircctions as lie 
thought necessary. At tlie same time he sent to all the traders 
information that as it was expected a great number of Indians would 
enter the town that day. who might be inclined to plunder, he 
desired they would have their arms ready, uiiil repel any attempt 
of that kind. 

About ten o'clock, I'ontiac and his chiefs arrived, and were 
conducted to the council chamber, where the (Governor and his 
jirincipal officers, each with pistols in his belt, awaited his arrival. 
As the Indians passed on, they could not help observing that a 
gn-ater number of troops than usual were drawn up on the parade, or 
marching about. No sooner had they entered and been seated on the 
skins prepared for them, than Pontiac asked the Governor on what 
occasion his young men, meaning the soldiers, were thus drawn up 
and parading the streets. He received for answer that it was only 
intended to keep them perfect in their exercise. 

The Indian chief warrior then began his speech, which contained 
the strongest professions of friendship and good will toward the 
English, and when he came to the delivery of the belt of wampum, 
the particular mode of which, according to the woman's informa- 
tion, was to be the signal for the chiefs to Cre, the Governor and all 
his attendants drew their swords half way out of their scabbards; 
and the soldiers at the same time made a clattering of their arms 
before the door, which had l)een purpos-ly left open. Pontiac, 
though one of the bravest men, immediate'y turned pale and 
trembled; and, instead of giving the belt in the manner ])roposid, 
delivered it according to the usual way. Ilis chiefs, who had impa- 
tiently expected the signal, looked at each other with astonishment, 
but continued rpiiet waiting the result. 

The Goveinor, in his turn, made a speech, but instead of thanking 
the great warrior for his i)rofession8 of friendship he had just utter- 
ed, he accused him of being a traitor. He told him that the 
P^nglish, who knew everything, were convinced of his treachery 
and villainous designs; and as a proof that they were ac(|uainted 
with ilis most secret thoughts and intentions, he stepped towards an 
Indian chief who sat iie'irest to him, and drawing aside the blanket, 
exposed the shortened lire-lock. This entirely disconcerted the 
Indians, and frustrated their design. 



40 Pontiad's Financial Scheme. 



He then continued to tell them, that as he had given his word at the 
time they had deeired an audience, that their persons should be safe, 
he would hold his promise inviolable, though they so little deserved 
it. However, he desired them to make the best of their way out of 
the fort, lest his young men, on being acquainted with their 
treacherous purposes, should cut every one of them to pieces. 

Pontiac endeavored to contradict the accusation, and to make 
excuses for his suspicious conduct; but the Governor, satisfied of the 
falsity of his protestations, would not listen to him. The Indians 
immediately left the fort ; but instead of being sensible of the 
Governor's generous behavior, they threw off the mask, and the next 
day made a regular attack upon it. 

Thus foiled, Pontiac laid formal siege to the fortress, and for 
many months that siege was continued in a manner, and, with a 
perseverance, unexampled among the Indians. Even a regular 
commissariat department was organized, and bills of credit, drawn 
out upon bark, were issued; and, what is rarer, punctually paid. 
From May, 1763, when Detroit was first attacked, until March, 
17(34, the inhabitants were sleeping in their clothes, expecting an 
alarm every night. 

Fort Pitt was besieged also, and the garrison reduced to sad straits 
for want of food. This being known beyond the mountains, a 
quantity of provision was collected, and Colonel Bouquet was 
appointed to convey it to the head of the Ohio, having assigned 
him for the service the poor remains of two regiments, which had 
but lately returned from the war in Cuba. He set out toward the 
middle of July, and upon the 25th reached Bedford. From that 
post, "he went forward by Forbes's road, passed Fort Ligonier, and 
upon, the .5th of August was near Bushy Eun, one of tlie branches 
of Turtle Creek, which falls into the Monongahela, ten miles above 
Fort Pitt. Here he was attacked by the Indians, who, hearing of 
his approach, had gathered their forces to defeat him, and during 
two days the contest continued. On the 6th, the Indians, having 
the worst of the battle, retreated ; and Bouquet, with his three 
hundred and forty horses, loaded with flour, reached and relieved 
the post at the Fork. 

Co-operating with Bouquet, in the pursuit of the same general 
policy of the British Government, General Bradstreet was ordered 
JBto the country upon Lake Erie in the spring and summer of HOis 



Campaigns of Junn/mf ami Bradntreet. 41 



II'' moved to Niagara early in the ,<uiiiin(r: and tliere, in June, 
accompanied l»y Sir William .Jolin8t)n, held a grand council with 
twenty or more trihes, all ol" whom sned for peace; and, npon 
the 8th of August, reached Detroit, where, about the 21st of that 
)nonth, a definite treaty was made with the rndiun3. Amonj^ the 
[)rovisions of this treaty were tiie following; 

1. All jirisouers in the hands of the Indians were to be given up. 

2. All claims to the posts and forts of the English in the West 
were to be abandoned, and leave granted to erect such otiier forts as 
might be needed to protect the traders, etc. Around each fort as 
much land was ceded as a ''cannon-shot" would lly over. 

3. If any Indian killed an Englishman he was to be tried by 
English law, the jury one-half Indians. 

4. .Six hostages were given by the Indians for the Inn' rnlllllnient 
of the conditions of the treaty. 

The Annual Txegister of 1704 says this treaty was made at i')-i'£((uo 
Isle, (Erie.) .Mr. Ilarvey, of Erie, (pioted by Day, in Historical 
Collections of Pennsylvania, (-{H,) says the same. Others have 
named the Maumee, where a truce was agreed to, August Gth. 

While Bradstreet's army lay encamped on the lields near Detroit, 
Captain Morris, with a few Iroquois and Canadian attendants, was 
pursuing his adventurous embassy to the countrv of the Illinois. 
Ascending the Maumee in a canoe, he soon approached the camp of 
Pontiac, who had now virtually given u}) his great contest, and 
withdrawn to the banks of this river with his chosen warriors. 
While yet at some distance Morris and his party were met by al)0ut 
two hundred Indians, who treated him with great violence and 
rudeness, while they oftered a friendly welcome to the Iroquois 
and Canadians. Attended by this clamorous escort, they all moved 
together towards the camp. At its outskirts stood Pontiac himself. 
He met the ambassador with a sc(nvling brow, and refused to oliV-r 
his hand. "The English are liars," was his first salutation, lie 
then displayed a letter addressed to himself, and jmrporting to have 
lieen written by the King of France, containing, as Morris declares, 
the grossest calumnies which the most ingenious malice could devise, 
to incense the Indians against the Mnglish. The old falsehood was 
not forgott.-n. " Your French father," .said the writiM', ''is neither 
dead nor asleep ; he is already on his way, with sixty great shij)6, to 
revenge himself on the English, and drive them out of America.'' 
Tlie letter wivs written by u French ollicer, or, more probably, ft 



42 deception of Morris at Fort Wayne. 

French fur trader, who, for his own profit, wished to inflame the 
passions of the Indians, and thus bar the Avay against English 
competitors. If Bradstreet, before leaving Sandusky, bad forced the 
Indians of that place to submissio;], he would have inspired such an 
awe and respect among the tribes of the whole adjacent region, that 
Morris might have been assured of safety and good treatment, even 
in the camp of Pontiac. As it was, the knowledge that so many of 
their relatives were in the power of the army at Detroit restrained the 
Ottawa warriors from personal violence; and, having plundered the 
whole party of everything except their arms, their clothing, and their 
canoe, they suffered them to depart. 

Leaving the unfriendly camp, they urged their way, with poles 
and paddles, against the rippling current of the Maumee, and on 
the morning of the seventh day reached the neighborhood of Fort 
Miami. Tiiis post, captured the preceding year, had since remained 
without a garrison ; and its only tenants were the Canadians, who 
had built their houses within its palisades, and a few Indians, who 
thought fit to make it their temporary abode. The meadows about 
the fort were dotted with the lodges of the Kickapoos, a large band of 
whom had recently arrived ; but the great Miami village was on the 
opposite side of the stream, screened from sight by the forest which 
intervened. 

Morris brought his canoe to land at a short distance below the 
fort, and while his attendants were making their way through the 
belt of woods which skirted the river, he himself remained behind, 
to complete some necessary arrangements. It was fortunate that he 
did so, for his attendants had scarcely reached the open meadow, which 
lay behind the woods, when they were encountered by a mob 
of savages, armed with spears, hatchets, and bows and arrows, and 
bent on killing the Englishman. Being, for the moment, unable 
to find him, the chiefs had time to address the excited rabble, and 
persuade them to postpone their vengeance. The ambassador, 
buffeted, threatened, and insulted, was conducted to the fort, where 
he was ordered to remain, though, at the same time, the Canadian 
inhabitants were forbidden to admit him into their houses. Morris 
soon discovered that this rough treatment was, in a great measure, 
owing to the influence of a deputation of Delaware and Shawanese 
chiefs, who had recently arrived, bringing fourteen war belts of 
wampum, and exciting the Miamis to renew their hostilties against 
the common enemy, 



^faltrrafiiii nt ni' Morris. 43 



Morris had not ivmaiiu'd loiij,' at tlu- lort, wln-ii i\V(j .Miami 
warriors entered, who, seizing him hy the anus, and thrcuteninR him 
with a raised tomaliawk, lorct'tl him out of the L'at«'. and lt*<l him ik 
the hank dl'tiie river. As they dnw him into the water, the etuivic- 
tion Hushed across his mind, that they intended tn drown him. and 
then taki- his scalp; imt lie soon saw Ids mistake, for ihev h-d lim 
across the stream, whieh. at this season, was fordalile, and thence 
toward the great Miami village. Winn I hey aiijiroached the jodgeis. 
they stopped and hegan to strip him, hnt grew angry at the diOi- 
cnlty ot' the task. In rage and despair, he himself tore ot!" Ins 
nniform. The warriors honnd his arms l)ehind him with his own 
sash, and drove him heibre them into the village. Instiintly. from 
all the lodges, the savages ran out to receive their prisoner, chistering 
al)ont him like a swarm of angry hees. and nttering their diseordant 
death yells — sounds comi)ared to which the nocturnal liowlings 
of starved wolves are gentle and melodious. The greater nuniher 
were eager to kill him ; hut there was a division of o]>!nion. and a 
clamorous dehate (.-nsued. 'i'wo of his Canadian attendants— (iod- 
froy and St. \'incent — had followed him to the village, and now 
ventured to interpo-e with the chiefs in his hehalf. Amung the 
latter was a nephew of Pontiac, a young man, though not yet 
arrived at maturity, who shareil the b(dd spirit «d" his heroic 
kinsman. He harangued the tumultuous crowd, declaring that he 
would not see one of the Englisii jnit to death, when so many of his 
own relatives were in their hands at Detroit. A ^fiami chief, named 
the Swan, also took part with the jirisoner, and cut loose his bonds : 
but Morris had no sooner begun to speak in his own behalf, than 
another chief, called the White Cat. seized him, and bound him fast 
by the neck to a post. Upon this, Pontiac's nejihew rode up oti 
horseback, severed the cord with his hatchet, and relejised the unfor- 
tunate man. " I give this Englishman his life," exclaimed the 
daring boy. " If you want English meat, go to Detroit, or to the 
Lake, and you will lind enough of it. What business have you with 
this man, who has come to speak with ns? " 

The current of feeling among the throng now began to change ; 
and, having vented their hatred and spite by a profusion 
of words and blow.s, they at length thrust the ambjissador witli 
violence out of the village. He succeeded in regaining the fort, 
although, on the way, he was met by one of the Indians, who beat 
his naked body witli a stick. 



44 An Indian Naval Engagement. 

He found the Canadian inhabitants of the fort disposed to befriend 
him, as far as tiiey could do so without danger to themselves ; but 
his situation was still extremely critical. The two warriors, who 
had led liim across the river, were constantly lurking about, watch- 
ing an opportunity to kill him ; and the Kickapoos, whose lodges 
were pitched on the meadow, sent him a message to the eli'ect that 
if the Miamis did not put him to death, they themselves would do 
so, whenever he should pass their camp. He was still on the 
threshold of his journey, and his final point of destination was 
several hundred miles distant ; yet, with great resolution, he deter- 
mined to persevere, and, if possible, completely fulfill his mission. 
His Indian and Canadian attendants used every means to dissuade 
him, and in the evening held a council with the Miami chiefs, the 
result of which was most discouraging. Morris received message 
after message, threatening his life should lie persist in his design ; 
and word was brought him that several of the Shawanese deputies 
were returning to the fort, expressly to kill him. Under these 
circumstances, it would have been madness to persevere ; and, 
reluctantly abandoning his purpose, he retraced his steps towards 
Detroit, where he arrived on the 17th of September, fully expecting 
to find Bradstreet still encamped in the neighborhood. But that 
agile commander had returned to Sandusky, whither Morris, com- 
pletely exhausted by hardships and sufferings, was unable to follow 
him. He hastened, however, to send Bradstreet the journal of his 
unfortunate embass}', accompanied by a letter, in which occurs the 
following extract: "The villains have nipped our fairest hopes in 
the bud. I tremble for you at Sandusky; though I was greatly 
pleased to find you have one of the vessels with you, and artillery. 
I wish the chiefs were assembled on board the vessel, and that she 
had a hole in her bottom. Treachery should be paid with treachery ; 
and it is a more than ordinary pleasure to deceive those who would 
deceive us." 

The above account is gathered from Parkman's history of the 
conspiracy of Pontiac, and from the testimony of his Indian and 
Canadiaii attendants, given in Bradstreet's presence, at his camp 
near Sandusky. The original journal is in the London Archives. 

A naval engagement, which occurred during this Pontiac war, 
is thus mentioned in the " British Annual Register" for 1763 : " On 
Lake Erie, with a crowd of canoes, the Indians attacked a schooner, 
wbjph conveyed provisions to the fort at Petroit, Though in their 



Chtrttcirr (,f I'oitf'mr. 45 



savage navy they had employed near four hundred men, and had 
but a single vessel to engasre, they were repul§ed, after a liot enpape- 
ment, with considerable loss. This vessel was, to tlu'ni. as a fortili- 
(jiition on the water, and they could not make their attacks witli 
so much advantage as ujwn the enemy by laud." 

In this war the Miamis were with their red bn'tlir<;i), and as.-i.slcd 
particuhirly in the destruction of Forts Miamis and Sandusky. 
They brought into the field one thousand warriors. After the 
failure of I'ontiac, that great chief sought refuge among the Miamis, 
and continued with them for more than a year. In March, 1T65, 
we tiiid Sir William .Tohnson complaining that the Miamis took a 
soldier of Fort ^liami prisoner, robbed him of all his clothing, and 
turned him into the woods. lie also reports that the Miamis are 
at war with the Chippewas, allies of the English, and had killed and 
captured a large number of them. George Croghan, on the 'i.\\\\ 
of August, attended by Colonel Campbell, made a treaty with the 
Miamis, by which that nation was to remain undisturbed in its 
hunting grounds. Not long after this, the tribes abandoned their 
towns on the Great Miami, and removed to the Maumee, the St. 
Joseph and Wabash rivers. 

The confederated tribes had failed to take the three most impor- 
tant fortresses in the West — Detroit. Pitt and Niagara. ^Many of 
them became disheartened ; othere wished to return home for the 
winter : others had satisfied their longings for revenge. United only 
by the hojie of achieving an immediate success, they fell from one 
another when that success did not come. Jealousies and old enmi- 
ties revived ; the league was broken ; and Pontiac left his tribe and 
wnt into the West, and for some years after was living iimong the 
Illinois, and at St. Ijouis. attempting, but in vain, to bring about a 
new union and a new war. He was, in the end, killed by a Kaskas- 
kia Indian. 

So far as we can form a judgment of this chieftain, (says .1. II. 
Perkins, in liis Western Annals,) in point of talent, nobleness of spirit, 
honor and devotion, he was the superior <»f any red man of whom wi 
have an account. His plan of extermination was most masii-rly : 
bis execution of it eipiid to its conception. Hut for the treachery 
of one of his followers, he would have taken Detroit early in May. 
His wh(»le force might then have lieen tlirected in one mass, first 
ni>on Niagani, and then upon Pitt; and in all jirobability both i>o8t*' 
would have fallen. Even disajipointed as he was at Detroit, had 



46 George Orogliarih Visit to the 

the six nations, with their dependent allies, the Delawares and 
Shawanese, been true to him, the British might have been long kept 
beyond the mountains ; but the Iroquois, — close upon the colonies, 
old allies of England, very greatly under the influence of Sir William 
Johnson, and disposed, as they ever proved themselves, to claim 
and sell, but not to defend the West, — were for peace on the 
terms of the British King's proclamation. Indeed, the Mohawks, 
and leading tribes, were from the first with the British ; so that, 
after the success of Bouquet and Bradstreet, there was no difficulty 
in concluding a treaty with all the Western Indians. 

George Croghan, of Pennsylvania, Sir William Johnson's sub- 
Commissioner, made a visit to the West in ]705, for the purpose of 
establishing more friendly relations between the English and the 
more distant Western tribes. From the journal of his travels, 
published in the Appendix to Butler's History of Kentucky, it 
appears that he setoff from Fort Pitt with two bateaux, on the 17th 
of May, 1705, and on the date named below, we find him at the 
mouth of the Wabash: 

July 25th, 17G5, we set out from tliis place (after settling all 
matters happily with the natives), for the Miames, and traveled the 
whole way tiirough a tine, rich bottom, overgrown with wild hemp, 
along the Oaabaclie,"till we came to Eel river, where we arrived the 
27th. About six miles up this river is a small v'llage of the 
Twightwee, situated on a very delightful spot of ground on the bank 
of the river. The Eel river heads near St. Joseph's, and runs nearly 
parallel to the Miames, and at some few miles distant from it, 
through a fine, pleasant country, and after a course of about one 
hundred and eighty miles, emi)ties itself into the Ouabache. 

On the 28th, 29th, oOth and 31st, we traveled still along side the 
Eel river, passing through fine, clear woods, and some good meadows, 
though not so large as those we passed some days before. The 
country is more overgrown with woods, the soil is sufficiently rich, 
and well watered with springs. 

August 1st, we arrived at the carrying place between the river 
Miames and the Ouabache, which is about nine miles long in dry 
seasons, but not above half that length in freshets. The head of the 
Ouabache is about forty miles from this place, and after a course of 
about seven hundred and sixty miles from the head spring, through 
one of the finest countries in the world, it empties itself 
into the Ohio. The navigation from hence to Ouicatanon, is very 



Mmim ee T '7/ lie v / // 1 7 ('• "> . 47 



ditlicult in low water, on account of many rapids and rifts ; but in 
I'reshets, which generally happen in the spring and lull, bateaux or 
canoes will pass, without diflicuhy, I'rom here to Ouieatanon in three 
days, wliicli is about two hundred and forty miles, and by land al)out 
two hundred and ten miles from Ouicatanon to Port Vincent, and 
thence to the Ohio ; bateaux and canoes may go at any season of the 
year. Throughout the whole course of the Ouabache, tiie banks 
are pretty high, and in the river are a great many islands. Many 
shrubs and trees are found here unknown to us. 

Within a mile of the Twightwee village, I was met by the chiefs 
of that nation, who received us very kindly. The most part of these 
Indians knew me, and conducted me to their village, where they 
immediately hoisted an English flag that I had formerly given them 
at Fort Pitt, The next day they held a council, after which they 
gave me up all the English prisoners they had ; then made several 
speeches, in all of which they expressed the great pleasure it gave 
them, to see the unhappy differences which embroiled the several 
nations in a war with their l)rethren (the English) were now s(» near 
a happy conclusion, and that peace was established in their country. 

Tiie Twightwee village is situated on l)oth sides of a river, called 
St. Joseph. This river, where it falls into the ^liame river, about a 
quarter of a mile from tliis place, is one hundred yards wide, on the 
east side of which stands a stockade fort, somewhat ruinous. 

The Indian village consists of about forty or Hfty cabins, besides 
nine or ten French houses — a runaway colony from Detroit. During 
tiie late In<lian war. they were concerned in it, and being afraid of 
punishment, came to this post, where, ever since, they have spirited 
up the Indians against the Enplish. All the French residing here 
are a la/.y, indolent people, fond of breeding mischief, and spiriting 
up the Indians against the English, and should by no means be 
suffered to remain here. The country is pleasant, the soil rich and 
well watered. After several conferences with these Indians, and their 
delivering me up all the English prisoners they had, on the 6tli of 
August, wc set out for Detroit, down the Miatnes river in a canoe. 
This river heads almut ten miles from hence. The river is not navi- 
u'able till ynii cKine to the place where the river St. Joseph joins it, 
and makes a consideialily large stream. Nevertheless, we fuund a 
great deal uf dillieulty in getting our canoe over shoals, as the waters 
at this season were very low. The banks ot the river are high, and 
the country overgrown with lofty timber of various kinds : and the 



48 Croglian on the Mawniee in 1765. 



land is level and the woods clear. About nine miles from the 
Miames or Twightwee, we came to where the large river that heads 
in a large lick, falls into the Miame river. This they call the Forks. 
The Ottawas claim this country, and hunt here, where game is very 
plenty. From hence we proceeded to the Ottawa village. This 
nation formerly lived at Detroit, but is now settled here, on account 
of the richness of the country, where ^ame is always to be found in 
plenty. Here we were obliged to get out of our canoes, and drag 
them eighteen miles, on account of the rifts, which interrupt the 
navigation. At the end of these rifts, we came to a village of the 
Wyandots, who received us very kindly, and from thence we proceed- 
ed to the mouth of this river, where it falls into Lake Erie. From 
the Miames to the lake is computed one hundred and eighty miles, 
and from the entrance of the river into the lake at Detroit, is sixty 
miles — that is forty-two miles upon the lake, and eighteen miles up 
the Detroit river to the garrison of that name. The land on the 
lake side is low and fiat. We passed several large rivers and bays -^ 
and on the 16th of Angust, in the afternoon, we arrived at Detroit 
river. The country here is much higher than on the lake side ; the 
river is about nine hundred yards wide, and the current runs very 
strong. There are several line and large islands in this river, one 
of which is nine miles long ; its banks high, and the soil very good. 

On the 17th, in the morning, we arrived at the fort, which is a 
large stockade, inclosing about eighty houses. It stands close on 
the north side of the river, on a high bank, commands a very 
pleasant prospect for nine miles above and nine miles below the 
fort. The country is thickly settled with French. Their planta- 
tions are generally laid out about three or four acres in breadth on 
the river, and eighty acres in depth. The soil is good, producing 
plenty of grain. All the people here are generally poor wretches, 
and consist of three or four hundred French families, a lazy, idle 
people, depending chiefly on the savages for subsistence. Though 
the land, with little labor, produces plenty of grain, they scarcely 
raise as much as will supply their wants, in imitation of the Indians, 
whose manners and customs they have entirely adopted, and cannot 
subsist without them. 

The men, women and children speak the Indian tongue perfectly 
well. In the last Indian war, tlie most part of the French were 
concerned in it, (although the whole settlement had taken the oath 
of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty.) They have, therefore, great 



Moravian Missiojis in Oliio. 49 



reason to be thankful to the English clemency in not bringing them 
to deserved punishment. Before the late Indian war, tiiere resided 
three nations of Indians at this place: The Pctta\v;ittun,ies, whose 
village was on the west side of the river, about one mile belosv the fort ; 
the Ottawas, on the east side, about three miles above the fort; 
the Wyandots, whose village lays on the east side, about two miles 
below tiie tort. The former two nations have removed to a consid- 
erable distance, and the latter still remain where they were, and are 
remarkable for their good sense and hospitality. They have a 
particular attachment for the Eoman Catholic religion ; the French, 
by their priests, having taken uncommon pains to instruct them. 
During my stay here, I held frequent conferences with the different 
nations of Indians assembled at this place, with whom I settled 
matters to their general 'satisfaction. 

The courageous Moravian missionary, Frederick Post, first visited 
Ohio in 17G1, and during the next sjiring, in company with Hecke- 
welder, commenced the work of educating and converting to his 
faith the Indians of the Muskingum ; but in the following autumn 
was warned to leave the country, in anticipation of war. 

Late in 1767, and early in 1768, Treisberger established a mission 
near the Allegheny, though in the face of strong opposition and 
plots against his life, and succeeded in converting some of the leading 
Indians, through the influence of whom the missionaries were invited 
to Big Beaver in 17T0. The Delawares of the Muskingum, joined 
by the Wyandots, invited the Christian Indians of Pennsylvania to 
come and dwell on their river, and, after much deliberatio!i, the 
l)roposition was accepted. May 3d, 1772, Treisberger, with twenty- 
seven of his native disciples, founded 8h(enbrun on the Muskingum, 
the lirst Protestant Christian settlement within Ohio; to which, in 
the following year, the Christian Indians of the Susquehannah and Bis^ 
Beaver removed. For some years this and the neighboring Christian 
Indian towns continued in peace and prosperity; but during the 
wars between the northwest savages and Pennsylvania and \'irginia 
frontier-men, the innocent disciples of Post, Treisberger and liecke- 
welder were the subjects of suspicion and iealousy ; and in 177'J the 
British deliberated on measures to remove them from the American 
borders to destroy their supposed interference. 

The result is set forth in the following narrative of Mary Heck- 
ewelder, daughter of the missionary : 



50 Massacre of Moravian Christians. 

"Soon after my birth, April 16fh, 1781, times became very troub- 
lesome, the settlements often in danger from war parties; and finally, 
in the beginning of September of the same year, we were all made 
prisoners. First, four of the missionaries were seized by a party of 
Huron warriors, and declared prisoners of war; they were then led 
into the camp of the Delawares, where the death song was sung 
over them. Soon after they had secured them, a number of war- 
riors marched off for Salem and. Shrenbrun. About thirty savages 
arrived at the former place in the dusk of the evening, and broke 
open the mission house. Here they took my mother and myself 
prisoners, and. after having led her into the street and placed guards 
over her they plundered the house ot every thing they could take 
with them and destroyed what was left. When going to take my 
mother along with them, the savages were prevailed upon 
through the intercessions of the Indian families, to let her 
remain at Salem till the next morning — the night being dark and. 
rainy, and. almost impossible for her to travel so far — they at last 
consented on condition that she should be brought into the camp 
the next morning, which was accordingly done, and she was safely 
conducted, by our Indians to Gnadenhutten. 

"Afterexperiencing the cruel treatment of the savages for some time, 
they were again set at liberty; but were obliged to leave their flour- 
ishing settlements, and forced to march through a dreary wilderness 
to Upper Sandusky. We went by land through Goseachgwenk to 
Walhonding, and then partly by water and partly along the banks of 
the river, to Sandusky creek. All the way I was carried by an In- 
dian woman, carefully wrapped in a blanket on her back. Our 
journey was exceedingly tedious and dangerous; some of the canoes 
sunk, and those that were in them lost all their provisions, and 
everything they had saved. Those that went by land drove the cat- 
tle, a pretty large herd. The savages now drove us along, the mis- 
sionaries with their families usually in their midst, surrounded by 
their Indian converts. The roads were exceedingly bad, leading 
through a continuation of swamps. 

"Having arrived at Upper Sandusky, they built small huts of logs 
and bark to screen them from the cold, having neither beds nor 
blankets, and being reduced to the greatest poverty and want; for 
the savages had by degrees stolen almost every thing, both from the 
missionaries and Indians on the journey. We lived here extremely 
poor, oftentimes very little or nothing to satisfy the cravings of 



Calauntief^ of Craivford and his Kindred. UX 

hunger: and the poorest of the Indians were obh'ged to live on their 
dead cattle, whicli died for want of jxisture." 

In the following starch, 1782, some of the Moravians returned to 
their foruK-r homes to gather any remaining proi^-rty and collect the 
corn which had been left in the fields. Unfortunately, about sim- 
ultaneously, parties of Wyandots made an assault upon the 
white settlements which the frontier-men associated with the move- 
ments of the Moravians, and eigiity or ninety of these set out, 
captured the unsuspecting gleaners, bound them ; and William- 
son, commander of the party asked : " Shall these men, women 
and children be taken to Pittsburg, or be killed?'' Sixteen or 
eighteen only favored granting their lives, and soon about forty 
men, twenty women and thirty-four children — defenceless, innocent 
fellow-Christians, — were murdered in cold blood by eighty or ninety 
Americans. 

Another expedition as fierce and blood-thirsty, was at once organ- 
ized against the Moravian Delawares and Wyandots upon the San- 
dusky. " No Indian was to be spared; friend or foe, every red man 
was to die." The expedition was led, though in justice let it be 
said, reluctantly and unavoidably, by Colonel William Crawford. 
Carrying a black flag and with the battle cry of "no quarters," five 
hundred men marched ior Upper Sandusky in June, when they 
found the town deserted and savages prepared for the battle, in 
which the whites were defeated. Crawford's own fate is given by 
his associate in wretchedness, Dr. Knight. 

* About midnight on the 6th, Col. Crawford missed his son, a 
young man who had just attained his majority, and of great prom- 
ise. Word was jjassed along the line, but no tidings of the youth 
were obtained, and the father became alarmed for his safety. lie 
recjuested and obtained a number ot men to return with him to the 
camping grounds of the previous day to search for his missing boy. 
It was a fruitless mission. Crawford had returned on the trail but 
a short distance, when he concluded not to follow tlie main body of 
the troops, but to strike ofl with his party, by t)ie shortest possible 
road to Fort Mcintosh. This was a fatal mistake. On the third 
day out the Indians attacked the Colonel's small force, and utterly 
routed it, killing and taking prisoners nearly the whole. Among 
the captives was the unfortunate commander. 



' These letters and statemcnU were famished the Bacyros Forum, by A. T. Qoodman. 



52 CraivforiVs Ill-fated Expedition. 

About the same time, and in the same way, perished Colonel 
Crawford's son, John Crawford and his nephew and namesake 
William Crawford, a promising son of Valentine Crawford. So 
also died Major William Harrison, the Colonel's son-in-law, and a 
near relative, Major Rose. Truly the Sandusky expedition brought 
its full share of calamity to the family of its unfortunate commander. 

In corroboration of the foregoing is the following letter : 

Fort Pitt, July 11th, 1782. 

Sir : Dr. Knight, (a surgeon I sent with Colonel Crawford,) 
returned on the 4th instant to this place; he brings an account of 
the melancholy fate of poor Crawlord. The day after the main 
body retreated, the Colonel, Doctor, and nine others, were over- 
taken within thirty miles from the field of action, by a body of In- 
dians, to whom they surrendered, were taken back to Sandusky where 
they all, except the Doctor, were put to death; the unfortunate Col- 
onel, in particular, was burnt and tortured in every manner they could 
invent. The Doctor after being a spectator of this distressing scene, 
was sent to the Shawanese town under guard of one Indian, where he 
was told he would share the same fate next day ; but fortunately found 
an opportunity of demolishing the fellow, and making his escape. 
The Doctor adds that a certain Simon Girty, who was formerly in 
our service and deserted with McKee, is now said to have a com- 
mission in the British service, was present at the torturing of Col. 
Crawford; and that he (the Doctor) was informed by an Indian that 
a British Captain commands at Sandusky ; that he believes that he 
was present also, but is not certain; but says he saw a person there 
who was dressed and appeared like a British ofiicer. He also says 
the Colonel begged of Girty to shoot him, but he paid no regard to 
the request. A certain Mr. Shlover has also come in yesterday, who 
was under sentence at the Shawanese town; he says a Mr. William 
Harrison, son-in-law to Colonel Crawford, was quartered and burnt. 
Both he and the Doctor say they were assured by several Indians 
whom they formerly knew, that not a single soul should in future 
escape torture, and gave as a reason for this conduct — the Moravian 
affair. 

A number of people informed me that Colonel Crawford ought to 
be considered as a continental officer, and are of opinion retaliation 
should take place. These, however, are such facts as I can get. 
Dr. Knight is a man of undoubted veracity. 

This account has struck the people of this country with a strange 
mixture of fear and resentment. Their solicitations for making 
another excursion are increasing daily, and they are actually begin- 
ning to prepare for it. I have the honor to be &c., 

Wm. Eevine. 

To His Excellency, General Washington. 



Cranyford s Ill-fated Expedition. 



The ancestors of William Crawfonl, were of Scotch-Irish origin. 
They canae to America earJy in the cighieenlli century, locating in 
Virginia. The father of William was :: respectable farmer. His moth- 
er was a woman of masculine power and great energy of character, 
\j'ho was very attentive to her family of little ones. She was twice 
married. By Mr. Crawford, who died 173G, she had two sons, 
William and Valentine. William Crawford, was born in Berkley 
county, Virginia, in the year 1732, — the same that gave to the 
world the illustrious Washington. William was an intimate friend 
and playmate of George Washington, and at an early age, 
learned from him the art of surveying. It will be remembered, 
that for many years, Washington followed the occupation of a 
surveyor in Virginia. His services in that capacity, were often 
called into requisition in Berkley county. His visits were of 
weeks' duration. Upon these occasions he always stnjiped with his 
friend Crawford, and nowhere could he have found a more hospita- 
ble threshold. 

Weems in his life of Washington, thus refers to these visits : 

''This was a family exactly to George's mind, because promising 
him an abundance of that manly exercise in which he delighted. In 
front of the house lay a fine extended green, with a 8<juare of several 
hundred yards. Here it was, every evening, when his daily toils of 
surveying were ended, that George, like a young Greek training for 
the Olympic Games, used to turn out with his sturdy young com- 
panions, "to see,'' as they termed it, "which was the best man,'' 
at running, jumping and wrestling. And so keen was their passion 
for these sports, and so great their ambition to excel each other, 
that they would often persist, especially on moonshining nights, till 
bed time. The Crawfords and Stephensons, though not taller than 
(ieorge, were much heavier men ; so that at wrestling, ami j>articu- 
larly at the close, or Indian hug, he seldom gained much matter of 
triumph. But in all trials of agility, they stood no chance with 
him ! " 

This intimacy continued through life, and was j)roved upon more 
than one occasion to be genuine friendship; — to be relied upon in 
emergency. 

Until William Crawford reached his 23d yt ar, he followed the 
double occupation of a survevor and farmer. 

He subsequently held important judicial trusts in Pennsylvania ; 
was actively engaged iu the French war and revolutionary struggle, 



54 Crawford's Ill-fated Expedition. 

and was energetic in urging Congress to an effectual defence of the 
western frontiers. 

During the fall of 1779, Colonel Crawford led several small 
parties into Ohio in pursuit of savage depredators. No better em- 
ployment was desired by him than <o follow up with success those 
bands of redskins who made the frontier a region of terror; murder- 
ing families, destroying dwellings, stealing horses and cattle, and 
often carrying into hopeless captivity, men, women and children 
who had become objects of their rapacity. His expeditions to pun- 
ish these fiends rarely failed of success, and long before his unfortu- 
nate end, the name of William Crawford was a terror to the Ohio 
Indians. It is to be regretted that no connected accounts of his 
Indian exploits have come down to us. With here aud there an 
exception, treasured up in the memory of the aged, but little 
remains. We should probably have had a " storehouse " of pioneer 
history, had not the Colonel's records and papers. Journals and 
Orderly books been ruthlessly consigned to the flames soon after 
his death. That thoughtless act will ever be regretted by those 
who have felt an interest in the events of his career. 

In a letter addressed by Washington to President Moore of 
Pennsylvania, dated July 27th, 1782, is the following reference to 
Crawford : 

" It is with the greatest sorrow and concern that I have learned 
the melancholy tidings of Colonel Crawford's death. He was known 
to me as an officer of much care and prudence, brave, experienced 
and active. The manner of his death as given in letters of General 
Ervine, Colonel Gibson and others, was shocking to me, and I have 
this day communicated to the Honorable, the Congress, copies of 
such papers as I have regarding it." 

While the loss of Colonel Crawford was deeply felt by Washing- 
ton, and by a host of comrades in the patriot army, perhaps the 
grief excited by his melancholy end was nowhere more poignant 
than in Western Pennsylvania and Virginia. There, he was famil- 
iarly known to one and all. He had long been looked up to as a 
leader, and the pioneers of the border knew that a place had been 
made vacant which could not be filled. 

Colonel Crawford possessed a sound judgment ; was a man of 
singular good nature and great humanity, and remarkable for his 
hospitality. It is said that during his life in the West, many an 
Indian captive was spared through his influence. In times of peace 



CraioforcTs Ill-fated Expedition. 55 



and quiet no man was more friendly disposed lowanls tlie red man 
tlian he. Hundreds of them at different times visited his humble 
dwelling and |)artook of his hospitality. 

Regardinj^ Crawford's route to Upper Sandusky, ilie followintj 
extract of a letter from Hon. A. H. Byers. of Wooster, is here 
iutroduced as establishing a landmark of some historical value : 

Wooster, Ohio, March T, 1872. 

H. S. Kn'ai'P: On pncjc 14, of your " History of Ashland County," 
you say that " proba'ily tlic expedition of Crawford did not pass 
through any part of Ashland courity." I think you are in error, and 
base my judL'nient on the following facts: My father had a brother- 
in law. name<l Carson, who was in that expedition, and escaped. 
After father moved to this county, he visited his relatives in Western 
Pennsylvania, and in conversation with Carson regar(ling that dis- 
astrous campaign, the question would likely ai"ise, whether it passed 
through Wayne county? Carson assured him that the troops 
passed a small body of water, known as '• Mohecan John's Lake" 
This, beyond doubt, fixes a portion of the route, so that, westward, 
they passed through Hanover and Green townships, Ashland 
county. You will remember that the lake now called " OdeU's,'' 
was originally designated as " Mohecan John's Lake." 

Accept mj best wishes, &c. 

A. H. BvERS. 

lu the narrative of Dr. Kniglit, Colonel Crawford's associate, 
he states that on "Monday morning the tenth of June, we were 
paraded to march to Sandusky, about thirty three miles distant; 
they had eleven prisoners of us and four scalps, the Indians being 
seventeen in number. 

"Colonel Crawford was very desirous to see a certain Simon Girty, 
who lived with the Indians, and was on this account permitted to 
go home the same night, with two warriors to guard him, having 
orders at the same time to pa.ss by the place where the Colonel had 
turned out liis horse, that they might if possible find him. The rest 
of us were taken as far as the old town, whicli was within eight 
miles of the new. 

"Tuesday morning, the eleventh, Colonel Crawford was brought 
out to us on purpose to be marched in with the other prisoners. I 
asked the Colonel if he had seen Mr. Girty? He told me he had, 
and that Girty had promised to do every thing in his power for him, 
but that the Indian.s were very much enraged against the prisoners ; 
particularly Captain I'ipe, one of the chiefs, he likewise told me 



56 Craioford at the Stake. 

that Girty had informed him that his son-in-law, Colonel Harrison, 
and his nephew, William Crawford, were made prisoners by the 
Shawanese, but had been pardoned. Tnis Captain Pipe had come 
from the town about an hour before Colonel Crawford and had, 
painted all the prisoners' faces black. As he was painting me he 
told me I should go to the Shaw'anese towns and see my friends. 
When the Colonel arrived he painted him black also, told him he 
was glad to see him, and that he would have him shaved when he 
came to see his friends at the Wyandot town. When we marched, 
the Colonel and I were kept back between Pipe and Wyngenim, the 
two Delaware chiefs; the other nine prisoners were sent forward 
with another party of Indians. As we went along vve saw four 
of the prisoners lying tomhawked and scalped; some of them were at 
the distance of half a mile from each other. When we arrived within 
half a mile from the place where the Colonel was executed, we over- 
took the five prisoners that remained alive ; the Indians had caused 
them to sit down on the ground, as they did also the Colonel and 
me at some distance from them. I was there given in charge to an 
Indian fellow to be taken to the Shawanese towns. 

" In the place where we were now made to sit down, there was a 
number of squaws and boys, who fell on the five prisoners, and 
tomahawked them. There was a certain John McKinley among the 
prisoners, formerly an officer in the 13th Virginia regiment, whose 
head an old squaw cut off, and the Indians kicked it about upon the 
ground. The young Indian fellows came often where the Colonel 
and I were and dashed the scalps in our faces. We were then 
conducted along toward the place where the Colonel was afterwards 
executed; when we came within about a half a mile of it, Simon 
Grirty met us with several Indians on horseback ; he spoke to the 
Colonel, but as I was about one hundred and fifty yards behind, 
could not hear what passed between them. 

"Almost every Indian we met struck us with sticks, or their fists. 
Girty waited till I was brought up; then asked, was that the Doctor? 
I told him yes, and went towards him, reaching out my hand, but he 
bid me be gone, and called me a damned rascal, upon which the 
fellows who had me in charge pulled me along. Girty rode up after 
me and told me I was to go to the Shawanese towns. 

" When we went to the fire the Colonel was stripped naked, ordered 
to sit down by the fire, and then they beat him with sticks and their 
fists. Presently after I was treated in the same manner. They 



Crawford (iml (ilrfif. 57 



then tied a rope to the' foot of a post ahout fifteen feet high, l)onnd 
the Colonel's hands behind his back and fastened the rope to the 
ligature between his wrists. The rope was long enongh for him 
to sit down or walk round the post once or twice, and return the 
same way. The Colonel then called to Girtyand asked him if they 
intended to burn him? Girty answereil, yes. 'J'he Colonel said he 
he would take it all patiently. Upon this Captain Pipe, a Delaware 
chief, made a speech to the Indians, viz : about thirty or forty men, 
sixty or seventy squaws and boys. 

"When the speech was finished they all yelled a hideous and 
hearty assent to what had been said. The Indian men took up 
their guns and shot powder into the Colonel's body, from his feet to 
his neck. I fhink not less than seventy loads were discharged upon 
his naked body. They then crowded about him. and to the best of 
my ol)servation, cut off his ears; Avhen the throng had dispersed a 
little, I saw the blood running from both sides of his head in conse- 
quence thereof 

" The fire was about six or seven yards from the post to which the 
Colonel was tied; it was made of small hickory poles burnt tjuite 
through in the middle, each end of these poles remaining about six 
feet in length. Three or four Indians by turns would take up, 
individually, one of these burning pieces of wood, and apply it to 
his naked body, already burnt black with the powder. These \or- 
nientors presented themselves on every side of him with the burning 
faggots and poles. Some of the squaws took broad boards uj)on 
which they could carry a quantity of burning coals and hot embers 
and threw on him, so that in a very short time he hail nothing but 
coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon. 

"In the midst of these extreme tortures, he called to Simon Girty 
and begged him to shoot him ; but Girty making no answer, he 
called to him again. Girty then, by way of derision, told the Colo- 
nel he had no gun, at the sume time turning about to an Indian 
who was behind him, laughed heartily, and by all his gestures seemed 
delighted at the horrid scene. 

" (Jirfy then came up to me and told me to prepare for death, lie 
said, however, I was not to die at that place, but to be burnt at the 
Shawanese towns. He swore by G — d I need not expect to escape 
death, but should suffer it in all its extremities. 

" He then observed that some prisoners had given him to under- 
stand, that if our people had him they would not hurt him ; fnr his 



58 Indian Barbarities. 

part, he said he did not believe it, but desired' to know my opinion 
of the matter ; but being at that time in great anguish and distress 
for the torments the Colonel was suffering before my eyes, as well 
ad the expectation of undergoing the same fate in two days, I made 
little or no answer. He expressed a great deal of ill will ibr Colonel 
Gibson, and said he was one of his greatest enemies, and more to the 
same purpose, to all which I paid very little attention. 

" Colonel Crawford at this period of his sufferings besought the Al- 
mighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and bore his tor- 
ments with the most manly fortitude. He continued in all the ex- 
tremities of pain for an hour and three quarters or two hours longer, 
as near as I can judge, when at last being almost exhausted, he lay 
down on his belly; they then scalped him and repeatedly threw the 
scalp in my face, telling me " that was my great captain.'' An old 
squaw (whose appearance every way answered the ideas people enter- 
tain of the devil,) got aboard, took a parcel of coals and ashes and 
laid them on his back and head, after he had been scalped : 

"' He then raised himself upon his feet and began to walk round 
the post. They next put a burning stick to him, as usual, but he 
seemed more insensible of pain than before, 

" The Indian fellow who had me in charge, now took me away to 
Captain Pipe's house, about three-quarters of a mile from the place 
of the Colonel's execution. I was bound all night, and thus 
prevented from seeing the last of the horrid' spectacle. Next 
morning, being June 12th, the Indian untied me, painted me black, 
and we set off for the Shawanese town, which he told me was 
somewhat less than forty miles distant from that place. We soon 
came to the spot where the Colonel had been burnt, as it was partly 
in our way. I saw his bones lying amongst the remains of the fire, 
almost burnt to ashes. I suppose after he was dead they laid his 
body on the fire. The Indian told me that was my big Captain, and 
gave the scalp ' halloo ! ' " 

Girty, in the spring of this year, had given orders to have Hecke- 
welder and his comrades driven like beasts from Sandusky to Detroit, 
and enjoining especial brutality toward them. However, his agents, 
and those of the English commandant in the West, together with 
the traders employed to effect their removal, marked their conduct 
by conspicuous kindness, and especially in defending them against 
the outrageous brutality of Girty, who overtook the captives at 
Lower Smidusky, swearing he would have their lives, and finally 



The Girti/ lunnihi. 59 



conducted tlicm to their fellow disciples at a Moravian settlement 

upon tlie rivir Huron. 

As the famous Jind infamous white Indian, Simon Girty, is so 
often mentioned in these pages, it may be well to append here a 
sketch of the family from the writings of Judge Campbell: 

" Girty, the father was an emigrant from Ireland, about eighty 
years ago, if report can be relied on. He settled in Pennsylvania, 
where that liberty which he sought, degenerated in his possession 
into the b-Asest licentiousness. Ills hours were wasted in idleness 
and beastly intemperance. Nothing ranked higher in his estima- 
tion, or so entirely commanded his regard, as a jug of whisky. 
" Grog was his song, and grog would he have.'' His sottishness 
turned his wife's affection, and she yielded her heart to a neighbor- 
ing rustic, who, to remove all obstacles, to their wishes, knocked 
Girty on the head and bore oft' the trophy of his prowess. 

"He left four sons — Thomas, Simon, George, and James. The 
three latter were taken prisoners by the Sliawanese, Delawares, and 
Senecas, in that year which developed the military talents of (Jeneral 
Washington. George was adopted by the Delawares, and continued 
with them until his death. He became a perfect savage — his 
manners being entirely Indian. To consummate cunning, he added 
the most fearless intrepidity. He fought in the battles of Kenhawa, 
Blue Licks, and Sandusky, and gained himself much distinction for 
skill and bravery. In his latter years, like his father, he gave him- 
self up to intemperance, and died drunk, about twenty-five years 
ago, on the Miami of the lake or Maumee. 

" Simon was adopted by the Senecas, and became as expert a hunter 
as any of them. In Kentucky and Ohio, he sustained the reputa- 
tion of an unrelenting barbarian. Forty-live years ago, with his 
name was associated everything cruel and fiend-like. To the women 
and children in particular nothing was more terrifying than the 
name of Simon Girty. At that time it was believed l)y many, that 
he had fled from justice and sought refuge among the Indians, 
determined to do his countrymen all the harm in his power. This 
impression was an erroneous one. It is true he joined the Indians 
in their wars with the whites, and conformed to their usages. This 
was the education he had received, and those who were the foes of 
his red brethren were his foes. Although trained in all his pursuits 
as an Indian, it is said to be a fact, susceptible of proof, that through 
bis importunities, many prisoners were saved from death. His inllii- 



60 Washington's Indian Policy. 

ence was great, and when he chose to be merciful, it was generally 
in his power to protect the imploring captive. His reputation was 
that of an honest man. In the payment of his debts, he was 
scrupulously exact. Knowing mid duly appreciating integrity, he 
fulfilled his engagements to the last cent. It is stated that on one 
occasion he sold his horse rather than incur the odium of violating 
his promise. He was a great lover of rum. Nothing could afford 
him more joy than a keg of this beverage. When intoxicated, in 
abuse he was indiscriminate, sparing neither friends nor foes. Then 
it was he had no compassion in his heart. Although much disabled 
by rheumatism for the last ten years of his life, he rode to his 
hunting ground in pursuit of game. Suffering the moSt excruciat- 
ing pains, he often boasted of his war-like spirit. It was his constant 
wish that he might breathe his last in battle. So it happened. He 
was at Procter's defeat on the river Thames, and was cut to pieces by 
Colonel Johnson's mounted men. 

"James Girty fell into tlie hands of the Shawanese, who adopted 
him as a son. As he approached manhood, he became dextrous in 
all the arts of savage life. To the most sanguinary spirit, he added 
all the vices of the depraved frontiersmen, with whom he frequently 
associated. It is represented that he often visited Kentucky at the 
time of its first settlement, many of the inhabitants feeling the 
effects of bis courage and cruelty. Neither age nor sex found mercy 
at his hand. His delight was in carnage. When unable to walk, 
in consequence of disease, he laid low, with his hatchet, captive 
women and children who came within his reach. Traders, who were 
acquainted with him say, so furious was he that he would not have 
turned on his heel to save a prisoner from the flames. His pleasure 
was to see new and refined tortures inflicted ; and to perfect this 
gratification, he frequently gave directions. To this barbarian are 
to be attributed many of the cruelties charged upon his brother 
Simon. Yet this monster was caressed by Elliot and Proctor." 

The cessation of hostilities between England and her unconquera- 
ble colonies in 1783, inspired in candid, reflecting minds, no belief 
that warfare with the Western border savages was at an end. To 
throw open the country beyond the mountains without arousing the 
savages, became the study of the ablest minds, arid in September, 
1783, Washington addressed a letter to James Duane, in Congress, 
relative to the difliculties in connection with the public lands. He 
urged the necessity for making settlements compact, and suggested 



Britain Violates the Treat)/ of 1783. 61 



stringent laws against settling upon or surveying lands west of a line 
which might extend from the mouth of tlie (treat Miami to Mad 
river; thoiice to Fort Miiinii on tlie Maiimce, and thence northward 
so as to include Detroit, or perhaps from the fort down the river to 
Luke Erie, He pointed out the propriety of excluding Indian 
agents from all share in tlie trade with the red men, and prohibiting 
all purchases of land from Indians, excepc by Congress, or 8tate 
Legislatures. Unless these, or similar measures were taken, he 
prophesied renewed violent border wars. 

On the 'Z'1*X of September, Congress, in pursuance of these sugges- 
tions, forbade all purchase of, or settlement on Indian lands ; and 
October 15th, the Commissioners, to treat with the natives, were 
instructed : 

1st. To require the delivery of all prisoners. 

2d. To inform the Indians of the boundaries between the British 
possessions and the United States. 

3d. To dwell upon the fact that the red men luul not been 
faithful to their agreements. 

4th. To negotiate for all the land east of the line proposed liy 
Washington, namely: From the mouth of the Great Miami to Mad 
river; thence to Fort Miami, on the Maumee, and thence down the 
Maumee to the lake. 

5th. To hold, if possible, one convention with all the tribes. 

7th. To learn all they could respecting the French of Kaskaskia, 
etc. 

8th. To confirm no grants by the natives to individuals. 

9th. To look after American stragglers beyond the Ohio, to 
signify the displeasure of Congress at the invasion of the Indian 
hmd.'i, and to prevent all further intrusions. 

Ujion the 0th of the following March, the 4tli and olii of these 
instructions were entirely changed at the suggestion of the commit- 
tee, headed by Mr. Jefferson ; the western boundary line being madt to 
run due north from the lowest point of the I'^alls of the Ohio to the 
northern limits of the United States; and the Commissioners being 
told to treat with the natives at various j^laccs and at different 
times. 

The treaty of 17h:J, which terminated the war of the revolution, 
included Ohio within the boundaries of the United States, and the 7ih 
Article of that treaty agreed that the King of Great Britain would 



62 Harma/p'8 Campaign. 

" with all convenient speed " " withdraw all his forces, garrisons and 
fleets from the United States, and from every post, place and harbor, 
within the same." Military posts were garrisoned, however, by Brit- 
ish troops, and continued under the dominion of Great Britain 
many years after that date. But preparatory to taking possession of 
it, and in order to avoid collision with the Indian tribes, which 
owned the soil, treaties were held with them from time to time by 
which they ceded to the United States their title to their lands. 
But the territory thus secured by treaties with Great Britain, and 
with the Indian tribes, of which we had thus established an amica- 
ble understanding, was many years sequestered from our possession. 
The British government urged the failure of Americans to fulfill 
that part of the treaty protecting the claims of British subjects 
against citizens of the United States ; but, from their " aid and tribes 
comfort," rendered the Indians in the campaigns of Harmar, St. 
Clair and Wayne, the apparent prime cause was to defeat the efforts 
of the United States to extend her power over the country and tribes 
north of the Ohio and continue to the British the advantage of the 
fur trade, which, from their relations with these tribes they possessed. 

The ultimate result of this international difficulty, was the cam- 
paigns of 1790, — '91 and -'94, ostensibly against the Indians, but, 
substantially, against them and their British alhes, whicl^ bear so 
intimate a relation with the formal surrender of the country to its 
rightful proprietor, that they perform an essential part of history. 

The most satisfactory account furnished, relating to this important 
campaign, is that published by the late Charles Cist, in his first 
volume of the " Cincinnati Miscellany," issued in 1845. This rendi- 
tion of the true history of these events is given with so much evident 
caution, emanates from a source of so great respectability, and is 
adopted or confirmed by such high authorities, that there is no 
hesitation to accept in full his premises and conclusions. He says : 

" Having gathered a variety of papers, which shed light on the 
various campaigns of Harmar, St. Chiir, and Wayne, I feel it a duty 
imposed on me by that circumstance to compile a fuller and more 
accurate narrative of those events than I have thus far seen in print. 
Nor need it at all appear strange, under the existing state of society 
and coidition of things, that much of what is already on record, 
should abound in errors; and that both Harmar and St. Clair should 
mistake the location of the battle they fought, and that many state- 
ments founded on conjecture, should pass current for years in the 



Indian Hatrf(h and Perfdij. 63 

commnnity, to an extent which even yet serves to confuse the truth 
of liistory. These things tire all easily acoountcd for by the wilder- 
ness character of tho untroddi'ii West, the scattered state of the 
settlements in the Miami country, the little communication between 
the respective parts, and the utter absence of newspapers. 

" I commence with Ildinnars campaign. A volume would hardly 
serve to point out the error.s in dates, i)laces, and facts generally, in 
print upon this sulyect. The best mode of correction is to compile 
the narrative anew, availing myself of unpublished manuscript notes 
of Captain John Armstrong, who commanded a company of United 
States regulars attached to Harmar's army during that campaign, 
and whose escape with life in the first battle was so remarkable. 

"The Western irontier had been for some years, say from 17^2 to 
1 Tss, ill :i very disturbed state by reciprocal aggressions, of Indians 
and whites. Thire does not appear, in the history of those days, 
however, any systematic and general movement of the Indians for 
tlie extirpation of the whites, as was alleged to be the. object of 
their great confederacy of 1782, which, dividing into two parties, 
broke, one upon the upper Ohio settlement, the other on the various 
Kentucky stations, carrying massacre and captivity so extensively 
along their course. The irregular and precarious mode of living 
among. the savages, forbade the accomplishment of such design,. it it 
had even been their settled purpose ; the subsistence of themselves 
and families being principally derived from the chase, a species of 
provision which did not permit the laying up of extensive and 
jtermanent stores, if even their improvident mode of living had 
permitted the eftort. 

" But when they found the settlers entrenching themselves in fort 
after fort, circumscribing their range, and cutting them entirely of!' 
from their favorite hunting grounds south of the Ohio, there can be 
no doubt that a determined hostility sprung up in the minds of the 
savages, which all the exertions of the American Government failed 
to allay, and soon rendered it apparent that the two races could not 
live together in amity, where it was the policy of the one to reclaim 
the country from the hunter, and of the other to keep it a wilder- 
ness. 

''Alter treaty u))on tri-aty had been made and broken, ami the 
frontiers had been suffering through this whole perio«l, from the toma- 
hawk and scalping knife, the government, then just going into opera- 
tion, detached a force of three hundred and twenty regular troops, 



64 IIaTmar''H Campaign. 

enlisted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the protection of the 
frontiers, and devolved the command on Josiah Harmar, who had 
borne arms as a colonel with credit during the Revolutionary 
struggle. A force of one thousand one hundred and thirty-three 
drafted militia from Pennsylvania and Kentucky, was also placed 
under his orders. The regulars consisted of two battalions, com- 
manded respectively by Majors Wyllye and Doughty, and a company 
of artillery under Captain Ferguson, with three brass pieces oi 
ordnance. Colonel Hardin, of Kentucky, was in command of the 
militia, in which Colonels Trotter and Paul, Majors Hall and 
McMillan held subordinate commands. The orders to General 
Harmar were to march on to the Indian towns adjacent the lakes, 
and inflict on them such signal chastisement as should protect the 
settlements from future depredations. 

The whole plan had been devised by Washington himself, who well 
understood the subject, having, prior to the Revolution, as is well 
known, learned much practically of the Indian character, as well as 
the condition of the West, although it is not easy to conceive why 
he should have selected such men as Harmar and St. Clair, who 
were destitute of the training he himself had acquired, and which 
could have been found on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and 
Kentucky, in many distinguished Indian fighters, ready for use. 
The force of circumstances probably biased his judgment, as it 
served to etiect appointments equally exceptionable during the war 
of 1812, such as those of Hull, Dearborn, Bloomfield, and Chandler, 
men who had outlived their energies, if ever qualified practically for 
the weighty trust devolving on them. 

On the 29th of December, 1789, General Harmar arrived at 
Cincinnati. He had been stationed for some months j^rior to this 
at the mouth of the Muskingum, waiting at that post for militia force 
and military supplies from the upper country, and the completion of 
Fort Washington, which Major Doughty, with one hundred and forty- 
six men froin Fort Harmar, had been detached to construct. From 
this period to the 30th of September, 1790, he was employed in 
making everything ready for the expedition, and on that day, all his 
preparations being made, he started with the regulars, the militia 
under Colonel Hardin having already set out. 

The first day's advance was seven miles, and the encampment for 
the night was on a branch of Mill creek ; course, northeast. Eight 
miles more were made the second day, on a general course of 



liiil'mn Toirns III h'ort Wdijin. {\t^ 

north wt'sl, tin- army «'ncainpiiig on another branch ol" Mill creek. 
On the third day a march of fifteen miles was made; tlie course 
generally north, and the encampment on tlie waters of Muddy 
creek, a tributary of tlie Little Miami, within one mile of Colonel 
Hardin's commantl. The next morning Colonel Hardin, witii the 
militia, were overtaken and passed ; and halting at Turtle creek, one 
mile furtlier on, the whole army encamped for the night. 

On the Ith of October, the army icached and crossed the Little 
Miami, on a northeast course, moved \\\i it one mile to a branch 
called Sugar or C.-cs.ar's creek, near Waynesville, where tliey 
encamped, having accomplished nine miles that day. Next day a 
march of ten miles, still on a northeast course, brought the army 
to Glade creek, near where Xenia now stands. On the 6th it 
reached Chillicothe, an old Lidian village, now Oldtown, and 
crossed again the Little Miami, keeping a nortlieast course, making 
nine miles that day. Next day the troops crossed Mad river, then 
called the Pickaway Fork of the Great Miami, and luade nine miles; 
iheir course for the first time l)ecoming west of north. On the Nth, 
pursuing a northwest course, they crossed Honey ci'cek, and made 
seven miles more. On the next day they Ibllowed the same course, 
and marching ten miles, encamped within two miles of the Great 
Miami. Next day the army crossed the Miami, keeping still a 
northwest course, and made ten miles more. 

On the lull, by a course west of nortli, it p.assed the ruins of a 
French trading station, marked on Hutchins" map as the Tawifjtu'ees 
— (Twigtwees or Miamies.) Encamped after making eleven miles. 
Next d.ay the army kept a course west of northwest, near Loramie's 
creek, and across the head waters of the Auglaize. Here they found 
the remains of a considerable village, some of the houses being still 
standing; fourteen miles made this <lay. On the 13th, marched 
ten miles, keeping west of northwest, and encamped, being joined 
by a reinforcement from Cincinnati, with ammunition. Next day, 
the Uih, Colonel ILardin was <k'lached with one company of regu- 
lars, and six himdred militia, in advance of the main body, and 
being charged with the destruction of the towns in the forks of the 
Maumee. On the arrival of this advance party, they found the 
towns abandoned by the Indians, and the principal one burnt. 
The m.ain body marched on the 11th ten miles, and on the loth 
eight more, both days on a northwest course. Next day m.ade 
nine miles, same cour>e, and on the Kth crossing the Maumee river 

(i 



()6 Indie II \ 'il luges at Ju)ii Wai/iie. 

to the Indian village, formed a junction again Avith Hardin, at the 
Omee (au Miami, Fr.) village, [now called Harmar's Ford.] This was 
the same town burnt and abandoned by the savages. 

At this point of the narrative, there is considerable obscurity with 
names and places which I must explore as I l>est can. The Indians 
had seven villages it seems, clustering about the junction of the 
St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers, which, as is well known, form the 
river Maiimee. These were : 1st, the Miami village, so called after 
the tribe of that name; corruptly and by contraction, Omee, from 
Au Miami, the designation given it by the French traders, who 
were here resident in great force. This lay in the fork of the St. 
Joseph's and Maumee; [now the Cole-Taber farm.] 2d, a village of 
the Maumees, of thirty houses, Ke Kiogue, now Fort Wayne — in 
the fork of the St. Mary's and Maumee. 3d, Chillicothe, a name 
signifying ' town,' being a village of the Shawanees, down the 
Maumee, on its north bank, and of fifty-eight houses. Opposite 
this was another of the same tribe, of eighteen liouses. The Dela- 
wares had their villages, two on the St. Mary's, [near where the 
Allen county, Ind., Poor Asylum is now situate,] about three miles 
from its mouth, and opposite each other, with forty-five houses 
together, and the other consisting of thirty- six houses, on the east 
side of the St. Joseph's, two or three miles Irom its mouth. 

The day of Harmar's junction with Hardin, tAvo Indians Avere 
discovered by a scouting party, as they were crossing a prairie. 
The scouts pursued them and shot one; the other made his escape. 
A young man named Johnson, seeing the Indian was not dead, 
attempted to shoot him again ; but his pistol not making fire, the 
Indian raised his rifle and shot Johnson through the body, which 
proved fatal. This night the Indians succeeded in driving through 
the lines between fifty and one hundred horses, and bore them oft", 
to the no small mortification of the whites. 

The same day (October 17th) was employed in searching in the 
hazel thickets for hidden treasure. Much corn was found buried in 
the earth. On the evening of this day. Captain McClure and 
McClary fell upon a stratagem peculiar to backwoodsmen. They 
conveyed a horse a short distance down the river undiscovered, 
fettered him, unstrapped the bell-tongue, and concealed themselves 
with their rifles. An Indian, attracted by the sound of the bell, 
came cautiously up and began to untie him, when McOlurc shot 
him. The report of the gun alarmed the camp, and brought many 



//I'/'/f'fis C(ninniin<l Ptfr-afc'l. ('.7 

of the troops to the phice. A yoimi^ man taken prisoner at Lftra- 
mie's was brought to see the Indian just killed, and pronounced 
him to be '"Captain Punk — great man — Delaware chief." 

The army burned all the houses at the ditlerent villages, and 
destroyed about twenty thousand Imshcls of corn, which they 
discovered in various ]»laces wliore it had been hidden by the Indians, 
a large (piantity having been found buried in holes dug for that 
jjurpose. In this destruction a variety of property belonging to 
French traders was involved. On the 18th, the main body of the 
troops was moved to Chillioothe, the principal town ot the Shawa- 
nese, General Ilarmar having previously detached a party of one 
hundred and eighty militia and thirty regulars in pursuit of the 
Indians, wlio appeared to liave retired westward across the St. 
Joseph's, after the destru(^on by themselves of the Omee town, Capt. 
John Armstrong commanding the regulars, and Col. Trotter, of the 
Kentucky militia, the entin^ force. They found and cut ott" a few 
Indian stragglers, but ilid not overtake the main body, being 
recalled to camp by signal, late in the evening. Next morning the 
same detachment was ordered out anew, and being placed imder 
the command of Colonel Kardin, pursued the same route in search 
! of the savages. Finding himself in their neighborhood, he detached 
Captain Faulkner, of the I'ennsylvania militia, to form on his lelt, 
which he did at such a distance as to render his company of no 
service in the approaching engagement. Hardin's command moved 
Ibrward to what they discovered to be the encampment of the 
enemy, which was Hanked by a morass on eacli side, as well as by 
one in front, -which was crossed with great promptness by the 
troops, now reduced to less than two hundred, who, before they had 
time to form, received a galling and unexpected fire from a largo 
body of savages. Tiie militia immediately broke and tied, nor 
could all the exertions of the otiicers rally them ; fifty two of the 
flispersing being killed in a lew minutes. 

The enemy pursued until Major Fountain, who had been sent to 
hunt up Faulkner an<l his company, returning with them, compelled 
them to retire, and the survivors of the di'taehmcnt arrived safe in 
camp. 

The regulars undi-c Armstrong bore the brunt of this allair. One 
sergeant and twenty-one privates lieing killed on the battle ground, 
and while i-ndeavoring to maintain their ])osition, were thrown in 
di.sordcr by the militia running througli their lines, tlinging away 



(58 (Japtain Armstrong' s Escape. 

their arms without even firing a shot. The Indians killed in this 
aifair nearly one hundred men. 

As regards the force of the savages, Captain Armstrong who was 
under no temptation to imderrate their number, speaks of them as 
about one hundred in force. Their strength has been stated, but 
as I think, without any data by Marshal, in his life of Washington, 
at seven hundred. The real strength of the Indians was in a well 
chosen position, and in the cowardice of the militia, who found 
numerically, the pi'incipal force opposed to them. This destructive 
contest was fought near the spot where the Goshen State road now 
crosses Eel River, near Heller's Corners, about twelve miles west 
of Fort Wayne. Ca]>tain Armstrong broke through the pursuing 
Indians and plunged in the deepest of the morasses referred to, 
where he remained to his chin all night in water, with his head con- 
cealed by a tussock of high grass. Here he was compelled to listen 
to the nocturnal orgies of the Indians, dancing and yelling around 
the dead bodies of his brave soldiers. As day approached they 
retired to rest, and Armstrong chilled to the last degree, extricated 
himself from the swamp, but foimd himself obliged to kindle a fire 
in a ravine into which he crawled, having his tinder-box, watch and 
compass still on his person. By the aid of the fire, he recovered his 
feeling, and the use of his limbs, and at last reached the camp in 
safety. For some- years after, bayonets were found upon this spot 
in numbers, and bullets have been cut out of the neighboring trees 
in such quanties as to attest the desperate character of this engage- 
ment. 

On the 20th the General jfiiblished the following order : 

" Camp, at Chillicotiie, ^ 

(One of the Shawanesc Towns ou the Omee (Maiimee) River,) > 

October 20th, 1790. ) 

The party under the command of Captain Strong, is ordered to 
burn and destroy every house and wigwam in this village, together 
with all the corn, &c., which he can collect. A party of one hun- 
dred men, ( militia ) properly officered, under command of Colonel 
Hardin, is to burn and destroy effectually this afternoon, the Picka- 
Avay town with all the corn, <fec., which he can find in it and its 
vicinity. 

"The cause of the detachment being worsted yesterday, was 
entirely owing to the shameful, cowardly conduct of the militia 
who ran away, and threw down their arms without firing scarcely a 
single gun. In returning to Fort Washington, if any officer or men 



The Indians A<,ain Atfwled. 69 

sliull i»rpsnmo to quit the ranks, or not to march in tho form tliat 
tla'v are onlcrcMl. the General will niosl assureijly order the artillery 
to fire oil tlit-ni. He h(»{>es the eheck they reeeived yesterday will 
make them in tutiire obedient to orders. 

*' Jo.siAH 1Iai:mai{, Brigadier (4enera]." 

On the lilst the army left Chillicothe on their return to Kort 
NVashinLTton, marching eight miles, [to Merriam's creek, now 
naiiKMl) wlicn the scouts, who liad Itcen scouring the countrv, eanu! 
in and reportetl that the Indians had re-occuj)ie(l the ' Omee ' vil- 
lage, lying in the junction of the St. Joseph's and Maumee rivers. 
Ilarmar, anxious to ettiice the stigma resting on the American arms 
in the affair of the lUth, detatched Colonel Ilardin with orders to 
surprise the savages, and bring on an engagement. The })arty 
under his orders consisted of three hundred militia, of which three 
companies were mounted men, with sixty regulars under command 
of ^rajor Wyllys. 

Colonel Ilardin arrived at the Omee town early on the raornin"- 
ofthe*2:id. His force had been divided into two parties, the left 
division of which was to have formed down the St. Mary's and cross 
at the ford, after which they were to rest until daylight, an<l cross 
tlie St. Josephs and commence an attack on the Indians in front, 
who had encamped out, near the ruins of their town. The ri^ht 
division muler Ilardin and Wyllys, were to proceed to '• Harmars "' 
ford, on the Mauinee, where they were to remain until McMillan's 
party liad reached the river, and commence the attack which was to 
be the signal for them to cross the Maumee and attack the Imlians 
in the rear. Owing to the treachery or ignorance of the guides, 
however, McMillan's force lost its way in the thickets through which 
they h.ad to p.ass. and although travelling all night, did not reach the 
lord until daylight. As soon as the Indians, who had been encamp- 
ing about the ruins of their town, discovered Hardins men, they 
began to rally for the fight, the alarm spreadinir, and the Indians 
rushing iift Coloiu-l Hardin discovering that unless he crossed 
immediately he would be compelled to do it in the face of superior 
numbers, .and expecting every moment t<» hear the report of McMil- 
lan's men in his rear, g.ave tlie order to cross, and by the lini • two- 
thirds of his force had passed over, tlie b.attle be-^an. A severe 
engagement ensuecl ; tho desp«'ration of the saxa^es in the contest 
surpassed anything previously known, an<l the greater p:ut. throw- 
ing down their arms, rushed on the bavonets, toniMhawk in hand 



TO Affecting Incident. 

thus rendering everything xiseless but the rifles of the militia, and 
carrying rapid destruction everywhere in their advance. Wliile 
this attack was going on, the rifles of tlie remaining Indians were 
fatally employed picking out the officers. Major Fountain and Wyl- 
lys, both valuable officers, fell directly after the battle began, the 
former pierced with eighteen bullets. Fifty one of Wyllys's regu- 
lars shared his fate, and the other divisions suflfered severely in both 
killed and Avounded. 

Major McMillan came up with his force while the battle was 
raging, but could not turn its tide, although he succeeded in enabling 
the discomfited troops to retire, which they did in comparatively 
good order. 

The militia behaved well on this memorable day, and received the 
thanks of General Harmar for their good conduct. What the car- 
nage in this battle was, may be inferred from the return of one hun- 
dred and eighty killed and Avounded, not more than half of those • 
engaged in it escaping unhurt. There is no doubt, as respects the 
second battle, — whatever Avas the iact in the first, — that the savages 
outnumbered, as well as overpoAvered, Hardin's forces, and the 
disparity Avas rendered still greater by the plan of night attack 
Avhich separated McMillan from the main body Avhen his aid Avas 
most needed. 

It is alleged by some historians that the American troops were 
not defeated, as was pro\'en by their regular retreat, a dis- 
orderly flight being the usual concomitant of defeat. But the fact 
that our troops were obliged to leave the remains of the brave 
soldiers who fell on that occasion, to become scalped and lie unbur- 
ied. and their bones bleaching on the ground, until Wayne's A'isit, 
four years afterwards, obtained them decent burial, scouts the idea. 

An aftecting incident occurred at the place of crossing the riA^er. 
A young Indian and his father and brother Avere crossing, Avhen the 
ball of a Avhite man passed through his body, and he fell. The old man 
seeing his boy fall, dropped' his rifle, and attempted to raise his 
fallen son, in ftrder to convey him beyond the reach of the Avhite 
men, Avhen the other son also fell by his side. He drcAV them both 
to the shore, then sat down between them, and Avith fearless, 
Roman composure, awaited the approach of the pursuing Ibe, who 
came up and killed him also. 



Jhii'iititrK I'll fortunate Generalship. 71 

If tlicrc lit' any ^^I'licralsliij. in tliiis scinling out flotJutliiiK'iit after 
tU'taflmifiit to l»e cut up in <Ktail, t Inn General I larniar deserves 
that distinction. Ho |tut the best face on the mailer Avhich the 
nature of the case permitted, and issued the tollowing order o\\ the 
•.••M of October, tin- day of the second battle : 

" Cami' Eight Milks fuo.m tuk Ruins } 

OF THE Maumei; Toavns, ViW. ^ 

''The General is exeeedinyly pleased "vvith the behavior of the 
militia in the action of this morning. 'J'hey have laid very many 
of the enemy dead upon the spot. Although our lo;.s is great, still 
it is ineonsideral)le in comparison to the slaughter among the savages. 
Every account agrees that upwards of one hundred warriors fell in 
the battle. It is not more than man ior man. and we can atlord 
them two I'or one. The resolution and tirin determined conduct of 
the militia this morning has etiectu.ally retrieved their character in 
the (ii>ini(Hi of the (icn>.ral. lie knows they can and will fight." 

It is easy to judge by the preceding narrative and orders what 
kind of fitness Ilarmar possessed for the service to which he was 
called. A general who encamps in the neighborliood of the enemy, 
with a force large enough to exterminate him, and contents liimsclf 
with sending out <letachments to be destroyed successively, where 
no adecpiale reason exists why the whole force sliould not have 
been brought into action, deserves not the name of a military man. 
Ilarmar kept two-thirds or three-fourths of his troops eight miles 
from the battle groun<l, inactive, and of as little service as if he had 
left them at Fort Washington. He appeared to be fully consoled 
for the loss of the brave ofticers and soldiers who fell l»y the savage 
tomahawk and litle. by the retlection expressed in the general 
orders that the American troops could attbrd to lose twice as 
many men :is the Indians. My unfavorable judgment is supported 
by that of the actors ol" that campaign. mIio still survive. 

The celebr.ated Indian chief lAlllr TitrlJc. commanded the sa\aues 
in both battles with ( olunel Hardin an<l his troops, as he did after- 
w.irds in St. Clair's tlefeat, as well as bore a conspicuous part in the 
battle with General Wayne, :it the I'allon Timbers. 

Ilarnjar leturneil li\ ca^y iiiarehes tn l-'ort \VasliinL;tnn, where he 
arrived on the iid of November, and which he U'l't soon .afterwards 
for Philadelphia, bein'4 succee<led in his military command by St. 
(ylair. He resided in comparative obscurity for some years, on the 
banks ot fhr- Sclinylkill. and died about l^-O;;. I was jtvesent at thu 



72 St. Clair Appointed Major General. 

funeral, which was conducted with great military pomp, his horse 
being dressed in mourning, and his sword and pistols laid upon his 
coffin, which was borne on a bier, hearses not being in use in those 
days. 

Harmar's disastrous defeat having demonstrated the necessity of 
opposing some strong check upon the aggressions of the northern 
savages, immediate measures were devised for the attainment of 
that end. 

As early as 1785, Washington had been impressed with the supe- 
rior advantages of the Miami villages at the continence of the St. 
Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers, for the erection of a fort ; and it 
now becanip. the paramount purpose during 1791, to build this and 
establish a chain of military posts from Fort Wasliington to the 
liead of the Maumee. In pursuance of this object, St. Clair was 
appointed Major General, invested with the chief command ot the 
frontier forces, and received instructions from which such extracts 
are taken as will define the general policy of the government. 

" It is only general principles which can be j)ointed out. In the 
execution of the duties of your station, circumstances which can 
not now be foreseen, may arise to render material deviations neces- 
sary. Such circumstances will require the exercise of your talents. 
The government possesses a guarantee in your character and 
mature experience, that your judgment will be proper on all occa- 
sions. You are well informed of the unfavorable impressions which 
the issue of the last expedition has made on the public mind, and 
you are also aware of the expectations which are formed of the 
success of the ensuing campaign. 

" An Indian war itnder any circumstances, is regarded by the great 
mass of the people of the United States, as an event which ought, 
if possible, to be avoided. It is considered that the sacrifices of 
blood and treasure in such a war far exceed any advantages which 
can possibly be reaped by it. The great policy, therefore, of the 
General Government, is to establish a just and liberal peace with the 
Indian tribes within the limits and in the vicinity of the territory 
of the United States. Your intimations to the hostile Indians, 
immediately after the late expedition, through the Wyandots and 
Delawares ; the arrangements with the Senecas, Avho were lately in 
this city, that part of the Six Nations should repair to the said hostile 
Indians, to influence them to pacific measures ; together with the 
recent mission ot Colonel Proctor to them for the same purpose, 



ltt</l<lii PiilliiJ nf til, I ' iiitid Stdf' .■<. 7.'» 

will stiDii^ly t'vini'O the ilcsirc dl" the ( ii'iicial Government to 
lircveiit tlu' efVusion of Mood. :iiul to i|ui('t, all disturbances. And 
\v1k-!i you shall arrive upon tlii; tronticrs. if any other or further 
measures to elVeet tlie same object sliould jiresent. you will eagerly 
embrace them, and the reasonable expenses thereof shall be defrayed 
by the public. Hut if all the lenient measures taken, or which may 
be taken, should fail to l)rin<; the hostile Indians to a just sense of 
their situation, it will be necessary that you should use such coer- 
cive means as you sliall possess, for that |>uri)ose. 

'• Vou are informed that, by an act of Congress, passed the 2d 
instant, anotlier regiment is to be raised and added to the military 
establishment, and provision made foj* raising two thousand levies 
for the term of six months, for the service of tlie frontiers. It is 
contem])lated that the mass of the regulars and levies may be 
recruited and rendezvous at Fort Washington, by the lOtli of July. 
In this case you will have assembled a force of three thousand 
effectives at least, besides leaving small garrisons on the Ohio, in 
order to perform your main expedition, hereinafter mentioned. 
But. in the meantime, if the Indians refuse to listen to the messen- 
gers of peace sent to them, it is most probable they will, unless 
prevented, spread themselves along the line of frontiers, for the 
])urpose of committing all tlie depredations in their power. In 
order to avoid so calamitous an event, Briga<licr General Charles 
Scott, of Kentucky, has been authorized by me, on the [»art of the 
President of the United States, to make an expedition against the 
Wea or Ouiatanon towns, with mounted volunteers or militia from 
Kentucky, not exceeding the number of seven hundred and fifty, 
officers included. Vou will perceive, by the instructions to Briga- 
dier (ieneral Scott, that it is confided to your discretion, whether 
there should lie more than one of the said expeditions of mounted 
volunteers or militia. Your nearer view of the objects to be 
etb'cted by a second desultory expedition, will enable you to form 
a better judgment than can at present l)e formed at tiiis distance. 
The j»rf»priety of a second operation would, in some degree, dejtend 
i>n the alacritv and irood rumposition of the troojis of which tlie 
first may have Iieeii tunned: tA' its success; ot the probable effects 
a second similar blow would have iij»<»n the indi.tns, with respect to 
its influencing them to peace ; or, it they shouhl be still hostilely 
disposed, of prevcutit;g them from desolating the frontiers by their 
I»nrtie8. 



\^ 



74 Instructions to St. Clair. 

" You Avill observe in the instruclious to Brigadier General Scott, 
which are to serve as a basis for the instructions of the commanders 
who may succeed him, that all captives are to be treated with great 
humanity. It will be sound policy to attract the Indians by kind- 
ness, after demonstrating to them our power to punish them, on all 
occasions. While you are making such use of desultory operations as 
in your judgment the occasion may require, you will proceed vigor- 
ously, in every operation in your power, for the purpose of the 
main expedition; and having assembled your force, and all things 
being in readiness, if no decisive indications of peace should have 
been produced, either by the messengers or by the desultory opera- 
tions, you will commence your march for the Miami village, in order 
to establish a strong and permanent military post at that place. In 
your advance you will establish such posts of communication with 
Fort Washington, on the Ohio, as you may judge proper. The 
post at the Miami village is intended for the purpose of aweing and 
curbing the Indians in that quarter, and as the only preventive of 
future hostilities. It ought, therefore, to 1)e rendered secure against 
all attempts and insults of the Indians. The garrison which should 
be stationed there ought not only to be sufficient for the defence of the 
place, but always to afford a detachment of five or six hundred men, 
either to chastise any of the Wabash, or other hostile Indians, or to 
secure any convoy of provisions. The establishment of such a post 
is considered as an important object of the campaign, and is to take 
place in all events. In case of a previous treaty, the Indians are to 
be conciliated upon this point, if possible ; and it is presiuned good 
arguments may be ottered, to induce their acquiescence. The situa- 
tion, nature, and construction of the works you may direct, will 
depend upon your own judgment. jMajor Ferguson, of the artillery, 
will be fully capable of the execution. He will be furnished with 
three five an<l a half incli howitzers, three six. pounders, and three 
three ])Ounders, all brass, with a sufficient quantity of shot and 
shells for the purpose of the expedition. The appropriation of 
these pieces will depend upon your orders. 

"Having commenced your marcli upon the main expeditiou, and 
the Indians continuing hostile, you will use every possible exertion 
to make them feel the eftects of your superii)fity ; and after having 
arrived at the Miami village, and put your Avurks in a defensible 
state, you will seek the enemy with the whole of your remaining 
force, and endeavor, by all possible means, to strike them with great 



/ iistriiffioths to Si. Chrir. 7;') 

severity. It will be left to your discretion whether to employ, if 
atttiiiuible, :iny Iiidijins of tlie six nations;, aiul the Chickasaws or other 
northern nations, ^[ost probably the employment of about lifty 
of each, under the direction of some discreet and able chief, would be 
advantageous, bnt these oui^ht not to be assembled before the line of 
march was taken up, because they are soon tired and will not be de- 
tained. The force contemplated for the garrison of the ]\[iami village 
and the communications has been from a thousand to twelve 
hundred non-commissioued otlicersaud privates. This is mentioned 
as a general idea, to which you will adhere, or from which you will 
deviate, as circumstances may re<juire. Thov garrison stationed at 
the Miami village, and its communications, must have in store at 
least six months' good salted meat, and flour in proportion. 

" It is hardly possible, if the Iiulians continue hostile, that you will 
be sutfered quietly to establish a post at the Miami village ; conflicts, 
therefore, may be expected ; and it is to be presumed that disci- 
[•lined valor will triumjdi over the undisciplined Indians. 

"In this event it is probable that the Indians will sue for peace. 
If this should be the case, the dignity of the United States will 
reijuire that the terms should be liberal. In order to avoid future 
wars, it might be ju'oper to make the Wabash, and thence over to 
the Miami, and down the same to its mouth, at Lake Erie, the 
boundary, excepting so far as the same should relate to the Wyan- 
dots and Delawares. on the supposition of their continuing faithful 
to the treaties, liut if they should join in the war against the 
United States, and your army be victorious, the ."'aid tribes ought to 
be removed without the l)oundary mentioneJ. . Vou will also jndge 
whether it would be proper to extend the boundary, from the mouth 
of the liiver an Pause of the Wabash, in a due west line to the Mii^sis- 
sippi. i'Vw Indians, besides the Kickapoos, would l»e alfected by 
such a line; this imght to be tenderly managed. The modilication 
[)f till' boiinilary must i)e conlided to your discretion, with this 
single observation, that the ]>olicy and interest of the United States 
ilictate their lieingat ])eaee with the Indians. This is of more value 
(ban million? of uncultivated acres, the right to which may \^^^ 
conceded by some, and dis|»uted by others. "^I'he establishment of a 
post at the Miami vdlage, will |)robal»ly bi' regarded, by the Mriti.-li 
[)lVicers on the IVonlier, as a circumstance of jealousy. It may. 
therefore, be neee8.<ary that you should, at a proper rime, nuike such 
intimations as may remove all such dispositions. This intimation 



76 Sf. Clair'' s Army in Mofio?}. 

had better follow than precede the possession of the post, nnless 
circumstances dictate otherwise. As it is not the inclination or 
interest of the United States to enter into a contest with Great 
Britain, every measure tending to any discussion or altercation must 
be prevented. The delicate situation of aifairs may, therefore, 
render it improper at present to make any naval arrangement upon 
Lake Erie. After you shall have effected all the injury to the hostile 
Indians of which your force may be capable, and after having estab- 
lished the posts and garrisons at the Miami village and its commu- 
nications, and placing the same under the orders of an officer 
worthy of such high trust, you will return to Fort Washington, on 
the Ohio."' 

Thus entrusted and commissioned, 8t. Clair proceeded with all 
possible celerity to execute instructions, reaching Pittsburg, where 
troops, horses and sui)plies were gathering, late in April; but the 
fulfillment of his mission and the designs of the government 
suffered unexpected delay. Arriving at Fort Washington, May 15th, 
he found himself stronger in " instructions '' than in the means for 
carrying them into effect. He had only two hundred and sixty-four 
available non-commissioned officers and privates. July 15th, the 
first regiment of two hundred and ninety-nine men joined him, and 
Greneral Butler's recruits added to his forces; but there was a 
deficiency of money, provisions and stores. Knapsacks, pack- 
saddles, tents, kettles, were defective, while damaged powder, arms, 
and accoutrements, and almost entire lack of tools to make the 
necessary repairs, contributed to the difficulties. Another source 
of anxiety arose, through the demoralization of the soldiers, 
in their intemperance, compelling St. Clair, as a reformatory 
measure, to remove the army to Ludlow's Station, some six miles 
from Fort Washington, which more than doubled the contracted 
cost of provision for the troops. 

September 17th, the army, numbering two thousand three 
hundred, moved forward and erected, at a point on the Great 
Miami, the first in the line of forts, and named it Fort Hamilton. 
October 12th, Fort Jeiferson was begun, forty miles distant (about 
six miles south of Greenville, Darke county.) ' From the 24th, the 
army marched through the wilderness, under the most discouraging 
circumstances of almost impassable roads, insufficient rations, 
sickness and desertion in great numbers, until November Hd, when 



they reachcil ;i braiidi ul' the WiibiLsh, ;i little south of the St. 
^[iiry's, for which St. Clair mistook the stream. 

The details of the encampment here, and the disastrous defeat of 
November 4th, are extracted from the commandintr general's letter 
to the Secretary of War, on his return to Fort Washington. 

" The right wing, composed of Butler's, Clark's, and Patterson's 
battalions, commanded liy Major General Butler, formed the first 
line; and the left wing, consisting of Jiedinger's and (Jaither's 
battalions, and the second regiment, comniandcd by Jjieutenant 
Colonel Darke, formed the second line, with an interval between 
them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow. 
The right Hank was invtty well secured by the creek; a steep bank 
au'l Faulkner's cor}).s, some of the cavalry, and their picquets, 
covered the left Hank. The militia were tlirown over the creek, 
and advanced about a (|Uarter of a mile, and encamped in the same 
order. There were a few Indians who appeared on the opposite side 
of the creek, but fled Avith tlie utmost ]">recipitation, on the advance 
of the militia. At this place, which I judged to be al)0ut fifteen 
miles from the Miami village, I determined to throw up a slight 
work, the plan of which was concerted that evening with Major 
I'erguson, wherein to have deposited the men's knapsacks, and 
everything else that was not of absolute necessity, and to have 
moved on to attack the enemy as soon as the first regiment was 
come up. But they did not permit me to execute either ; for, on 
the 4th, about half an hour before sunrise, and when the men liad 
just been dismissed from parade, (for it was a constant i)ractice to 
have them all under arms a considerable time before daylight,) an 
attack was made ujion the militia. These gave way in a very little 
time, and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion, 
(wjiicb, together with a part of Clark's, they threw into considerable 
disorder, and which, notwithstanding the exertions of both those olli- 
cers, was never altogether remedied,) the Indians following close at 
their heels. The lire, however, of the front line checked them ; but 
almost instantly a very heavy attack began upon that line; and in 
a few minutes it was extended to the second likewise. The great 
weight of it was directed .against the center of each, where the 
artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven 
with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from our fire, and 
confusion beginning to si)n'ad from the great numl)er of men who 
Were falling in all fjuarters, it became necessary to try what could 



Explanations of the Disaster. 



be done by the bayonet. Lieutenant Colonel Darke was accordingly 
ordered to make a charge with part of tlie second line, and to turn 
the left flank of the enemy. This was executed with great spirit. 
The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back three or four 
hundred yards ; but for want of a suflrcierit number of riflemen to 
pursue this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were 
obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had 
entered our camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops 
that were posted there. Another charge was made here by the 
second regiment, Butler's and Clark's battalions, with equal effect, 
and it was repeated several times, and always with success; but in 
all of them many men were lost, and particularly the officers, which, 
with so raw troops, was a loss altogether irremediable. In that I 
just spoke of, made by the second regiment and Butler's battalion, 
Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the 
second regiment fell except three, one of which, Mr. Greaton, was 
shot through the body. 

" Our artillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed except 
Captain Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half of 
the army fallen, being cut off from the road it became necessary to 
attempt the regaining it, and to make a retreat if possible. To this 
purpose the remains of the army was formed as well as circumstances 
would admit, towards the right of the encampment, from which, by 
the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, 
as if with the design to turn their right flank, but in fact to gain 
the road. This was effected, and as soon as it was open, the militia 
took along it, followed by the troops ; Major Clarke, Avith his bat- 
talion, covering the rear. 

" The retreat in those circumstances, was, you may be sure, a very 
precipitate one. It was, in fact, a flight. The camp and artillery 
were abandoned ; but that was unavoidable ; for not a horse was 
left alive to have drawn it off', had it otherwise been possible. But 
the most disgraceful part of the business is, that the greater part of 
the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the 
pursuit, which continued about four miles, had ceased. I found 
the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to 
remedy it ; for, having had all my horses killed, and being mounted 
upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, could not get 
forward myself; and the orders I sent forward either to halt the 
front, or to prevent the men from parting with their arms, were 



unatteni-led to. Tlir ri»ui cnntiinHMl ([uiti.' to Fort JeMLTsoii, 
twenty-nine miles, wiiicli was reached a little after sun-setting. The 
action begaii al)out halt' an hour l)etbre sunrise, and the retreat was 
attempted at liali' an hour alter nine o'clock. J have not yet heen able 
to get returns of the killed and wounded ; hut Major General lintler. 
Lieutenant Colonel Oldham, of the militia, ifajor Ferguson, Major 
Hart, and Major Clarke are among the former: Colonel Sargeant, 
my Adjutant general, Lieutenant Colonel Darke, Lieutenant 
Colonel Gibson, ^Major liutler. and the Viscount Malartie, who 
served me a.s an Aid-de-camp. are among the latter: and a great 
number of captains and subalterns in both. 

'• 1 have now, sir, finished my melancholy tale — a tale that will be 
felt sensibly by every one who has sympathy for private distress, or 
for public misi'ortune. I have nothing, sii', to lay to the charge of 
the troops, but their want of discipline, which, irom the short time 
they had been in service, it was impossible they should have 
ac(|uired,and which rendered it very difficult, when they were thrown 
into confusion, to reduce them again to order, and is one reason why 
the loss has fallen so heavy on the officers, who did every thing in 
their power to elfect it. Neither were my own exertions wanting : 
but, worn down with illness, a. id suffering under a painful disease, 
unable either to mount or dismount a horse without assistance, they 
were not so great as they otherwise would, and perhaps ought to 
have been. We were overpowered by numbers: but it is no more 
than justice to observe, that, though composed of so many different 
species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the army 
during the campaign. At Fort Jefferson I found the first regi- 
ment, which had returned from the service they had been sent upon, 
without either overtaking the deserters, or meeting the convoy of 
provisions. I am not certain, sir, whether I ought to consider the 
absence of this regiment from the field of action, as fortunate or 
otherwine. I incline to think it was fortunate, for, 1 very much doubt 
whether, had it been in the action, the fortune of the day had been 
turned; and, if it had not, the triumph of the enemy would have been 
more complete, and the country would have been destitute of every 
means of defence. Taking a view of the situation of our broken 
troops at Fort Jefferson, and that there waH no provision in the fort, 1 
called upon the field officers, vi/ : Lieutenant Calonel Darke, Major 
Ilamtramck, Major Zeigler and >Lijor Gaither, together with the 
Adjutant (reneral, (Winthroi) Sargent) for their advice what would 



80 The Defeat Eieplained. 

be proper further to be done ; and it was their unanimous opinion, 
that the addition of the fi.r|t reg^p^l^nt, unbroken as it was, did not 
put the army on so respectable" a foot as it was in the morning, 
because a great part of it was now unarmed ; that it had been then 
found unequal to tlie enemy, and should they come on, which was 
possible, would be found so again ; that the trooj)s could not be 
thrown into the fort, both because it was too small, and that there 
were no provisions in it ; that provisions Avere known to be upon 
the road, at the distance of one, or at most, two marches ; that 
therefore, it would be more proper to move without loss of time, to 
meet the provisions, when the men might the sooner have an oppoi- 
tunity of some refreshment, and that a proper detachment might be 
sent back with it to have it safely deposited in the fort. This advice 
was accepted and the array was put in motion at ten o'clock, and 
marched all night, and the succeeding day met a quantity of flour. 
Part of it was distributed immediately, part taken back to supply 
the army on the march to Fort Hamilton, and the remainder, about 
fifty horse loads, sent forward to Fort Jefferson. The next day a 
drove of cattle was met with for the some place, and I have inform- 
ation that both got in. The wounded, who had been left at that 
place, were ordered to be brought to Fort Washington by the return 
horses. 

'• I have said, sir, in a former part of this letter that we were over- 
powered by numbers. Of that, however, I have no other evidence 
but the weight of the fire, which was always a most deadly one, and 
generally delivered from the ground — few of the enemy showing 
themselves afoot except when they were charged ; and that in a few 
minutes our whole camp, which extended above three hundred and 
fifty yards in length, was entirely surrounded and attacked on all 
quarters. The loss, sir, the public has sustained by the fall of so 
many officers, particularly General Butler, and Major Ferguson, can- 
not be too much regretted ; but it is a circumstance that will allevi- 
ate the misfortune in some measure, that all of them fell most gal- 
lantly doing their duty. I have had very particular obligations to 
many of them, as well as to the survivors, but to none more than 
Colonel Sargent, He has discharged the various duties of his office 
with zeal, with exactness, and with intelligence, and on all occasions 
afforded me every assistance in his power, which I have also experi- 
enced from my Aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Denny, and the A^iscount 
Malartie, who served with me in the station as a volunteer." 



Ka'plfOKitiona Continued. 81 

Cicnenil Knox assigned as reasons for St. Clair's defeat, — 1st the 
deficiency of good troops; 2d, the want of appropriate training 
among those he had ; 3d, the lateness of the season. The Commit- 
tee of tiie House of Representatives appointed to investigate j;he mat- 
ter, reported the causes : 1st, the delay in preparing estimates, *S:c., 
for the defence of tlie frontiers, and the late passage of the Act 
(March 3d) for that purpose : 2d, the delay caused by the neglects 
in the Quartermaster's department ; lid, the lateness of the season 
wh'^n the expedition was commenced; 4th, the want of discipline 
and experience in the troops; and especially exonerated General 
St. Clair from all blame in connection with the disaster. J. II. 
Perkins in his Western Annals calls attention to two causes of the 
defeat, unnoticed by tlie Secretary of War and»the Committee of 
Congress ; viz., the surprise by the Indians, who were in no degree 
expected by the army ; and tlie confusion introduced at the outset 
by the Hying militia. Had the attack been expected, the troops pre- 
l);in(l, all chance of confusion avoided, and had the very able officers 
who commanded been obeyed, — with all the disadvantages of raw- 
troops, the event might have been, probably would have been, wholly 
different. We are then led to ask, how it happened that the troops 
were surprised? Were proper measures taken to guard against 
surprise? The militia as St. Clair says, were a quarter of a mile in 
advance of the main army, and beyond the creek; still farther in 
advance, was Captain Slough, who, with a volunteer party of regulars, 
went out to reconnoitre: and orders had been given Colonel 
Oldham, who commanded the militia, to have the woods thoroughly 
examined by the scouts and patrols, as Indians were known to be 
swarming through the forests, and to be hanging about the out- 
skirts of the army. In all this St. Clajr seems to have done his entire 
duty as far as sickness would permit him ; could he have seen in 
person to the essential steps it would have been better. During the 
night Cai)lain Slough, who was a mile beyond the militia, found so 
large a body of savages gathered about him, that lie fell back and 
reported his observations to General Butler. But the General, for 
reasons unex])lained, made no dispositions in conse<|uence of this 
information, and did not report it to the Commander-in-chief. 
Colonel Oldham also obeyed his orders, the woods were searched, and 
the presence of the enemy detected, but he too reju>rt<'d through ( aj*- 
taiij Slough, to (Jeneral Mutler, beyond whom the information did 
not go. The conseipience was that in the morning the anny was 



82 Tlie Terrified Frontier. 

taken unawares and unprepared. But even thus taken there was a 
great chance of victory for the United States troops, had they not 
been thrown into disorder at the outset by the flight of the mihtia ; 
and this leads us to notice the coincidence of common-sense unin- 
formed by technical knowledge, with practical military skill, for 
both (after Harmar's experience of 1790 with the western militia,) 
would wave forbidden the step taken by St. Clair when he posted 
his militia in a body in front of the other troops. The experience 
of Hardin under Harmar, had demonstrated that militia could not 
be trusted as a military force opposed to Indians, however brave the 
individuals ; as in the war of the Eevolution their untrustworthiness 
as troops, when opposed to regulars, had been experimentally proved ; 
and common sense* if free, unfettered by technical rules, would we 
think have prevented St. Clair placing his militia as he did. * * 

* There was nothing, absolutely nothing to excuse the abuse 
and persecution to which he was afterwards subjected; but there 
was, 1st, apparent neglect on the part of General Butler and Colonel 
Oldham, leading to a surprise ; 2d, a mistaken position assigned the 
militia by St. Clair, in accordance with the maxims of most officers 
of the day ; and 3d, a needless adherence to military rules on the 
part of the Commander-in-chief, which made his force a target for 
the Indians to shoot at." 

The final scenes in the melancholy drama of this gallant soldier's 
and accomplished gentleman's life, are noted under the " Sketch of 
the old Bench and Bar," in another chapter of this work. 

The destructive expedition of Generals Scott and Wilkinson into 
the lower Wabash region during the summer of 1791, added to the 
efforts of General Harmar in 1790, had inspired the Northwestern 
Indians with the belief, stimulated, by the British, that the govern- 
ment policy was to exterminate the race and seize their lands. This 
belief was now fully confirmed by the campaign of St. Clair. 
Inflamed with jealousy and hatred, and elated by the result of 
their last fierce victory, Indian depredations and barbarities threat- 
ened the terrified frontier settlers. The inhabitants proceeded to 
provide every possible means of defence, while the government 
adopted the earliest practicable measures for recruiting a military 
force adequate to the successful encounter of any possible combined 
Indian force, and sufficient for the establishment of the proposed 
military stronghold at the Miami villages. 



General Wayne's Camjmign — 17'.>4. 83 

After deliberately balancinr^ tlie peculiar military qualifications 
necessary in such an expedition, and the abilities of General Wayne, 
Washington assigned him the command. In June, 1792, General 
Wayne proceeded to Pittsburg to organize his army; and in Decem- 
ber, the " Legion of the United States '' was assembled at Legion- 
ville, about twenty miles below Pittsburg. Here they encamped till 
April, 17!t3, when, ])assing down the Ohio, it landed at '' Uobson's 
Choice,-' (the only point possible in consequence of high waters,) 
near Fort Washington, where, remaining until the 7th of October, 
the legion left Cincinnati. Below is given, with the editor's com- 
ments, a journal of the march, taken from Cist's Cincinnati Miscel- 
lany. 

Aside from the Ireshness of this .<])ecies of narration, written 
down on the spur of the moment, which, in the hands of an intelli- 
gent writer, is sure to interest, there are some points wortiiy of 
notice. 

The first is, that distances are described by the "five-mile spring," 
"seventeen-mile," and " twenty-nine-mile tree,'' which serves to point 
out the little improvement which the Miami country at that 
period atibrded, as way-marks on the march. But the letter is 
especially valuable, as a testimony from beginning to end of the 
untiring vigilance, and press-forward spirit of Anthony Wayne, 
which afforded a jjresage from the first day's march of his peculiar 
fitness for the hazardous and responsible service on which he was 
detached by government. 

Camp, Southwest Branch Miami, ) 
October, 22d, 1793. j" 

Dear Sir : — Agreeably to promise, I have seized the first o])i)or- 
tunity of writing you, and to be methodical in the business, I shall 
give it to you by way of journal. 

7th October. — Our first day's march was great, considering that 
the army had not got projjcrly in their gears. I think it was about 
ten miles. (Mir second, the Hth, was greater — it reached Fort 
Hamilton. Many of the men were exceedingly fatigued, and it was 
pretty generally believed hard marching, though the (General 
thought otherwise, and it must be so. 

0th. — Our tbird day's march was to the five-mile spring, advance 
of Ilaniillon. Observe, we fortified our camp every night, and were 
very vigilant, or ought tt> be so. 

loth. — Our fourtli day's march we encamped about the seventeen- 
mile tree, and nothing extraordinary hapi»eiK'd, i'xcej)ting that our 
line of march, cxtendeil for near five miles, owing to the rapidity 
of the marching and tlie badness of the roads for our transporta- 
tion, superadding the straggling soldiers, worn down with fatigue 



84 General Waynes Victorious 



and sickness, brought up by the rear guard, whom they retarded 
considerably. 

11th.— We proceeded on to the twenty-nine-mile tree, fortified as 
usual, and occupied a fine commanding ground ; and nothing of 
consequence happened here. 

12th. — The roads were very bad, and some of our wagons broke 
down : but as the General's orders declared there should be no 
interstices, the line of march was not impeded, and we made, say 
ten miles this day. 

13th. — We advanced by tolerably quick movements until we came 
within a mile or so of Fort Jefferson, and this day furnished a good 
deal of sport; for as the devil would have it, Colonel Hamtramck 
was maneuvering his troops, and had a sham fight, which was 
construed by the whole army, as an attack upon our advance guards 
or flankers. It really frightened a good many ; but we all said, let 
them come ; or, we are ready for them. We had marched hard this 
day, and I think not so well prepared. However, it was at length 
discovered to be a sham fight, and every body knew it then. Oh, it 
was Hamtramck's usual practice ! said they. But it was all in my 
eye — they never thought of Hamtramck ! 

14th. — We marched past Fort Jefferson without even desiring to 
look at it ; indeed, some of us turned our heads the other way with 
disdain; audit has been threatened (as report says) to be demol- 
ished entirely. This day's march brought Jis to where I am now 
sitting, writing to my friend. We fortified our encampment very 
strong, and feel very secure. 

15th. — The wagons were sent back to Fort St. Clair for stores, 
provisions, etc., with an escort of two subaltern and between eighty 
and ninety men. And nothing happened extra this day. 

16th. — The devil to pay ; Colonel Blue, with near twenty of the 
cavalry, went out to graze the horses of the trooiDS, and after some 
time Blue discovered something crawling in the grass, whicli he at 
first thought was turkeys, but immediately found them to be two 
Indians, and ordered a charge ; himself, two sergeants, and a private 
charged, the rest ran away ; the consequence was, the two Indians 
killed the t?vo sargeants — Blue and the private escaped. The leader 
of the rascals who behaved so cowardly was immediately tried and 
condemned, but pardoned the next day. 

17th. — Lt. Lowry, Ensign, formerly Dr. Boyd, with the escort of 
ninety men guarding the wagons, were attacked by a party of thirty 
or forty Indians, who rushed on with savage fury and yells, which 
panic struck the whole party, ( excepting the two officers and fifteen 
or twenty men, who fell a sacrifice to savage barbarity,) and they 
all fled, and have been coming into Fort St. Clair by twos and threes 
ever since. The Indians plundered the wagons, and carried off with 
them sixty- four of the best wagon horses in the army, killing six 
horses at the wagons in the defeat. Mr. Hunt has been a considerable 



Caiiijxi'hiii — 1 704. 85 

loser; his wa{];ou was pluiKUTcd also. Colonel Adtiir jmrsiicd (h<- 
Indians, and found several horses dead, which ho supposed had beon 
tired and they killed them, a proof that their llitrht was vt-r}' rajjid. 
In this attack we have lost two jiromising, worthy and brave oflicers, 
and ai)0ut twenty men, mostly of Captain Shaylor's company ; 
for his and Captain Prior's formed the escort, and are both now 
rather in disffracc. 

We have been led t(j believe that this place would have been 
made the f^rand deposit, until this day ; we now learn that there 
will be a forward move m the course of ten days, nine miles furtln-r 
into tlie Indian country, to a i)lace called Still Water ; the reason 1 
can't surmise, but they say, they are very coc^ent ones. I haVc no 
business to pry, but if I should accidentally find it out, you shall be 
informed. In the meantime believe me to be very sincerely your 
friend, Jxo. M, Scott. 

Late in October, General Wayne established his winter head- 
quarters, about six miles north of Fort Jeiferson, and there erected 
Fort Greenville, the present site of the town of that name in Darke 
county. 

On Christmas day, 1793, a detachment re-occupied the ground 
which had been rendered memorable by the disastrous defeat of St. 
Clair, three years before, and there built a stockade work, which was 
significantly called Fort Recovery. During the progress of this 
work he oflered a reward for every human skull found on the battle 
ground. Six hundred of these relics of carnage were collected 
and entombed beneath one of the block houses. Says one of the 
legion, " when we went to lay down in our tents at night, we had to 
scrape the bones together, and carry them out to make our beds.'' 
[See chapter on Mercer county.] 

Providing an ade*iuate garrison, General Wayne placed the fort in 
charge of Captain Alexander Gibson, and during the early months 
of 179-1 actively engaged in preparations for the anticipated blow. 
He had already been admonished by incidents of the march, and the 
vigilance of his numerous spies, that an active, dexterous and pow- 
erful enemy were in the wilderness surrounding him. 

The government, always anxious to avoid the carnage of war, had 
exhausted every means to obtain an amicable adjustment of the dif- 
ficulties ; although the fact that five different embassies were sent, 
offering most generous terms of peace to the hostile tribes, attests 
the sincerity of the exi)ressed design on the part of the United 
States authorities to render full justice to the aborigines. But the 
Indian successes, witli promised British and Spanish assistance, 



86 General Waf/ne's Victor ions 

rendered them insensible to pacific overtures, — all of Avhicli were 
more or less directly rejected, and three of the embassadors, — Free- 
men, Trueman and Colonel Hardin — were murdered. 

In June 1794, before the enemy had left winter quarters, a detach- 
ment which had acted as escort of provisions from Fort Kecovery, 
fell into an ambush of Indians about a mile from the fort, and were 
driven back with great loss, the victors continuing the pursuit 
to the very gates, which they endeavored to enter with the fugitives. 

The siege continued nearly two days, and from General Wayne's 
despa|;ch we learn that " there was a considerable number of armed 
white men in the rear, who they frequently heard talk in our 
languase, and encouraging the savages to persevere in the assualt; 
their faces generally blacked." Adds General Wayne, " another 
strong corroborating fact that there were British, or British militia 
in the assault, is, that a number of ounce balls and buck shot were 
lodged in the block houses and stockades of tlie fort. It would 
also appear that the British and savages expected to find the artil- 
lery that was lost on the 4-tli of November 1791, and hid by the 
Indians in the beds of old fallen timber, or logs Avhich they turned 
over and laid the cannon in, and then turned the logs back, in their 
' former berth. It was in this artful manner that we found them 
generally deposited. The hostile Indians turned over a great 
number of logs, during the assault, in search of these cannon, and 
other plunder, which they had probably hid in this manner, after 
the action of November 4th, 1791. I therefore have reason to be- 
lieve that the British and Indians depended much upon this artil- 
lery to assist in the reduction of the fort ; fortunately they served 
in its defence." 

July 26th, Scott joined Wayne at Greenville with 1,600 mounted 
Kentuckians, and on the 28th, the legion took up the track of the 
Indians, who had left it obviously marked in their rear, either from 
the haste in which they made it, or, what is more probable, because 
they were desirous of luring the army still farther into the recesses 
of the wilderness. 

He halted at Girty's town, at the crossing of the St. Mary's, twenty- 
four miles in advance of Greenville, a suiiicient length of time to 
build Fort Adams, on the bank of that stream. He was enabled to 
complete his march unobserved, till he arrived almost in sight of 
Au Glaize, the great emporium of the enemy, of which he took 
possession on the 8th of August, without the loss of a single man. 



Campaign — 1 7V>4. 



87 



On the preceding evening the enemy abandoned their settlements 
and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitji- 
tion, as convinced everybody that the approach of the legion was 
not discovered until a few hours before its arrival, when the fact 
was communicated by Newman, who deserted from the army at St. 
Mary's. 

It was numifest that tla- defection of that villaiu enabled the 
Indians to save their persons by a rapid llight; leaving all their 
l)roperty to fall into the hands of tlie Federal forces. The extensive 
and highly cultivated fields and gardens, which appeared on every 
side, exhibited the work of many hands. The margins of the 
beautiful rivers, Au Glaise and Miami, [of the Lako,J had the 
semblance of a continued village, for several miles above and below 
that junction. 

The first duty of the General, after taking possession of the 
country, was to erect a strong stockade fort, with four block houses, 
by way of bastions, at the confluence of the rivers, which he named 
Fort Defiance. 



The annexed plan and description 
I of Fort Defiance, is found in the nieni- 
_<iranda of Benj. Van Cleve, commu- 
nicated by his son, John W. Van 
Cleve, of Dayton, to the American 
Pioneer. 

At each aiii,'le of the fort was a block-hniise. 
Thi- otic next ihf iMatiinee is marked A, liav- 
iiii^ port-hdli's H,on the tlirec exterior sides, oiui 
door D and cliiinney G on the side facing to the 
inii-rinr. There wns a line of pickets on each 
ftT <n\i^ of the fort, connecting the block-houses l>y 
. iliiir nearest angles. Outside of the pickets and 
.V around the block-houses was a glacis, a wall of 
^ f.-irih right fret thick, sloping upwards and out- 
' wiirdsfroni the feel of the pickets, sup|iort'*d by 
II jog wall on the side of the ditch and by faciiies, 
n wall of faggots, on the side ne.\t tho Auglair.e 
'J'he ditch, fifteen feet wide and eight leei deep, 
surrounded the whole work except on the side 
toward the Aughiizj; and diagonal pickets, 
eleven feet long and one foot apart, were secu- 
red to the log wall and projected over the ditch. 
K and t wee gniewnys. V was n bank of 
eahh, four feet wide, h-ft for a pns-^age across 
or drawbridge, wliiclt was nii>M"d and lowered l)y puUies, 
1' nviiig it uncovered at pli-.isure. The oirrers" quarivrs 
Jit 1. At K. two lines of pickets converged towards L, 
which was a diicli eight feet «!« e;i, by which water was procured fr<.in ihc river wiilioui ex- 
posing the carrier to ilir en-niv yi wns a small sdnd-brr ni the i oint 




Fort Dr/ifiiirr. 
the ditch. G was a faHiiii,' L'He 
across the diteh, eoverinir it or 
were at H, and the storehouse* 



General Wayne''s Victorious 



It had been ascertained by the most recent intelligence, that the 
enemy were collected in great force — that they had been joined by 
the Detroit militia, and a portion of the regular army — and that 
they had selected, for the contest, an elevated plain, above the foot 
of the Kapids, on the left bank of the river, over which a tornado 
had recently passed, and covered the ground with fallen timber, Tjy 
which it was rendered unfavorable for the action of cavalry. This 
information, unpleasant as it was, did not excite any serious appre- 
hension, or in the least degree cool the spirit and ardor of the 
troops. On the contrary, among the otficers and privates, both of 
the legion and the mounted volunteers, there was but one aspiration 
heard, and that was to meet the enemy. 

Captain Wells, the wily, sagacious, and intrepid warrior of the 
woods, led his party within so short a distance of the British works, 
as to ascertain that the Indians were encamped under their protec 
tion. He took one or two prisoners, and made a bold, though 
unsuccessful attempt on a camp of warriors in the night, in which 
he was wounded. Soon after his return, the array moved slowly and 
cautiously down the left bank of the Maumee, (or " Miami of the 
Lake," and sometimes *' Omee,'' as the river was then called.) 

On the 13th of August, true to the spirit of peace, advised by 
Washington, General Wayne sent Christian Miller, who had been 
naturalized among the Shawaneese, as a special messenger to offer 
terms of friendship. Impatient of delay, he moved forward, and on 
the 16th, met Miller on his return with the message^ that if the 
Americans would wait ten days at Grand Glaize (Fort Defiance,) 
they — the Indians — would decide for peace or war. On the 18th, 
the army arrived at Roche de Boeuf\ just south of the site of Water- 
yille, where they erected some light works as a place of deposit for 
their heavy baggage, which was named Fort Deposit. During the 
19th, the army labored at their works, and about eight o'clock on 
the morning of the 20th, moved forward to attack the Indians, who 
were encamped at the fallen timbers, on the bank of the Maumee, 
at and around a hill jcalled " Presque Isle," about two miles south of 
the site of Maumee city, and four south of the British Fort Miami. 

This British post had been occupied by a garrison sent from 
Detroit the previous spring. There could be no misapprehension 
of the motives which led to this occupation— taking place, as it did, 
eleven years after the country had been ceded to the United States ; 
and at a time, too, when the angry and protracted uegotiaition ofj 



Campaigti — 1 7 04. 80 



several years relating to it, was supposed to be about tLiiaiiuiting iu 
an open rupture. The Indians were all decidedly in favor ol" the 
British. 

With tlic J(_';ilousy naLural lo Wfuknfs.s, they wt-rc always prom- ti> 
array themselves against tiie power which most directly pressed u|ton 
their destinies, and which they th(»nght most likely to affect tiieni 
injuriously. The British were fully aware of this feeling, which 
their agents were zealously active to excite and foster. They saw in 
it the means of crippling the growth of a young rival, who was 
stretching out into the West with giant strides, trampling down the 
forest, and introducing Christianity and civilization. The country 
had been ceded by a treaty still in force; but new negotiations were 
then in progress, under the inlluence of several disastrous defeats, 
and as the Indians demanded an independent dominion over the 
country in dispute, the British Government might expect that a 
surrender, so desirable to them, would at last be granted. A propo- 
sition of a similar character was made by the same government 
towards the close of the second war with Great Britain. The entire 
independence of the Indians occupying a wide belt on our north- 
western frontiers, was formally and seriously demanded, as one of 
the conditions of peace. 

As long as the formidable coalition of tribes which General Wayne 
found in arms, should continue united and hostile, it was evident 
that the liritish pretentions and hopes would remain. It was, 
therefore, of great moment with General Wayne, and with his 
country, that his present steps should be taken Avith the utmost 
prudence. A new defeat, like that which had terminated almost 
every previous campaign, commencing with the colonial period, 
about the middle of the last century, Avould have proved not only 
destructive to his army, so far advanced in the wilderness, l)ut 
probably decided the British to openly espouse the cause of the 
Indians. General Wayne, in the present case, could feel no assur- 
ance that this cause would not then be sustained by such co-opera- 
tion as the fort and garrison could afford. Indeed, the position of 
the Indians, under the walls of the fort, rendered it probable that 
such a course had been determined on. 

(ieneral Wayne had about three thousand men under his com- 
M)and, and the Indians are computed to have been equally numerous. 
This is not improbable, as the hostile league embraced the whole 
Northwestern frontier. As he approached the position of the enemy, 



90 General 'Wayne's Victorious 

he sent forward a battalion of mounted riflemen, which was ordered, 
in case of an attack, to make a retreat in feigned confusion, in order 
to draw the Indians on more disadvantageous ground. As was 
anticipated, this advance soon met the enemy, and being fired on, 
fell back, and was warmly pursued towards the main body. 

The morning was rainy, and the drums could not communicate 
the concerted signals with sufficient distinctness. A plan of turning 
the right flank of the Indians, was not, therefore, fulfilled. But the 
victory was complete, the whole Indian line, after a severe contest, 
giving way and flying iu disorder. About one hundred savages 
were killed. 

During the action, and subsequently, while General Wayne 
remained in the vicinity of the British, there did not appear to be 
any intercourse between the garrison and the savages. The gates 
were kept shut against them, and their rout and slaughter were 
witnessed from the walls with apparent unconcern, and without 
ofiering any interposition or assistance. After the battle. General 
Wayne devastated all the fields, and burnt all the dwellings around 
the fort, some of them immediately under the walls. The house of 
Colonel McKee, an Indian trader, who was supposed to have exer- 
cised great influence over the Indians, was reduced to ashes in the 
general conflagration. 

"It is too important to omit," says Mr. Mann Butler, in his 
history of Kentucky, '•' that General Wayne had positive authority 
from President Washington to attack and demolish the British Fort 
of Miami. But on recounoitering it closely, and discovering its 
strength, added to his own weakness in artillery, the General, with 
a prudence not always accorded him, most judiciously declined an 
attack." 

In this daring reconnoitre, the General was near falling a victim 
to his gallantry. He had rode within eighty yards of the fort, 
accompanied by his aid, Lieutenant William H. Harrison, and 
within point blank shot of his guns, when a considerable disturb- 
ance was perceived on the platform of the parapet. The intelligence 
of a deserter the next day explained the whole affair. It appeared that 
a Captain of marines, who happened to be in the garrison when 
General Wayne made his approach, resented it so highly, that he 
immediately seized a port fire, and was going to apply it to the gun. 
At this moment, Major Campbell, the commandant, drew his sword 
and threatened to cut the Captain down instantly, if he did not desist, 



Cainjmu/n — 1794. \)\ 



He then ordered him to be arrested. This high-minded forbearance, 
iti :ill i)robaljility, saved the life of General "Wayne, with his suite, 
and possibly the peaeo of the United States, ilajor Campbell then 
opened the following corresjwndence : 

Miami (MArMEi;) JiivKU, August 21st, 17'J4. 

Sir : — An army of the United States of America, said to be under 
your command, having taken post on the banks of the Miami 
(Maumee) for upwards of the last twenty-four hours, almost within 
the reach of the guns of this fort, being a post belonging to His 
Majesty the King of Great Britain, occupied 'by His Majesty's 
troops, and which I have the honor to command, it beconu-'s my 
duty to inform myself, as ?]iecdily as possible, in Avhat light 1 am to 
view your making such near approaches to this garrison. I have no 
hesitation, on my part, to say, that I know of no war existing 
between (ircat Britain and America. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

William Campbell, 
Major 2Ath Beg't, Comd'g a British post on the banks oj the Miami. 
To Major General Wayne, etc. 



Camp, on the Banks of the Miami, / 

(Maumee,) August 31st, 1704. )' 

Sir : — I have received your letter of this date, requiring from me 
the motives which have moved the army under my command to the 
])osition they at present occupy, far within the acknowledged juris- 
diction of the United States of America. Without (|uestioning the 
authority, or the propriety, sir, of your interrogatory, I think I may, 
without breach of decorum, observe to you, that were you entitled 
to an answer, the most full and satisfiictory one was announced to 
vou from the muzzles of my small arms, yesterday morning, in the 
action against the horde of savages in the vicinity of your post, 
which terminated gloriously to the American arms ; but, had it 
continued until the Indians, etc., were driven under the influence 
of the post and guns you mention, they would not luive much 
impeded the progress of the victorious army under my command, as 
no such post was established at the commencement of the present 
war, between the Indians and the United States. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with gnat respect, 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

Anthony Wayne, 
Major General, and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Army. 
To Major William Campbell, etc. 



92 General Wayne^s Victor'ious 



Fort Miami, August 22d, 1794. 

Sir: — Although your letter of yesterday's date fully authorizes 
me to any act of hostility against the army of the United States 
in this neighborhood, under your command, yet, still anxious to 
prevent that dreadful decision which, perhaps, is not intended to be 
appealed to by either of our countries, I have forborne, for these 
two days past, to resent those insults you have offered to the British 
flag flying at this fort, by approaching it within pistol shot of my 
Avorks, not only singly, but in numbers with arms in their hands. 
Neither is it my wish to wage war with individuals; but should 
you, after this, continue to approach my post in the threater.ing 
manner you are this moment doing, my indispensable duty to my 
King and country, and the honor of my profession, will oblige me 
to have recourse to those measures, which thousands of either nation 
may hereafter have cause to regret, and which I solemnly appeal to 
God, I have used my utmost endeavors to arrest. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with much respect, 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

William Campbell, 
Major 24:th Heg't, Comd'g at Fort Miami. 
To Major General Wayne, etc. 



Camp, Banks of the Miami, 22d August, 1794. 

Sir: — In your letter of the 21st instant, you declare: "I have 
no hesitation on my part, to say, that I know of no war existing 
between Great Britain and America." I, on my part, declare the 
same, and the only cause I have, to entertain a contrary idea at 
present, is the hostile act you are now in commission of, i. e., by 
recently taking post far within the well known and acknowledged 
limits of the United States, and erecting a fortification in the heart 
of the settlements of the Indian tribes now at war with the United 
States. This, sir, appears to be an act of the highest aggression, 
and destructive to the peace and interest of the Union. Hence it 
becomes my duty to desire, and I do hereby desire and demand, in 
the name of the President of the United Stales, that you immedi- 
ately desist from any further act of hostility or aggression, by 
forbearing to fortify, and by withdrawing the troops, artillery, and 
stores, under your orders and direction, forthwith, and removing to 
the nearest post occupied by his Britannic Majesty's troops at the 
peace of 1783, and which you will be permitted to do unmolested 
by the troops under my command. 

I am, with very great respect, sir, 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

■Anthony Wayne. 
To Major William Campbell, etc. 



Camiyaujn — 1794. Oil 



Fort Miami, 22d August, 1794. 

Sir: — I liave this moment to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of this date; in answer to which I have only to say, that 
being ])laced here in the command of a British post, and acting in 
a military capacity only, I cannot enter into any discussion either 
on the right or imjiropriety of my occupying my present position. 
These are matters that I conceive will be best left to the ambassa- 
dors of our ditferent nations. 

Having said this much, permit me to inform you that I certainly 
will not abandon this post at the summons of any power whatever, 
until I receive orders for that purpose from those 1 have the honor 
to serve under, or the fortune of war should oblige me. I must still 
adhere, sir, to the purport of my letter this morning, to desire that 
your army, or individuals belonging to it, will not approach within 
reach of ray cannon, Avithout expecting the consequences attend- 
ing it. 

Although I have said, in the former part of my letter, that my 
situation here is totally military, yet, let me add, sir, that I am 
much deceived, if His Majesty, the King of C4reat Britain, had not 
a post on this river, at and prior to the period you mention. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with the greatest respect, 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

William Campbell, 

Major 24th Reg't, Comcfg at Fort Miami. 
To Major General Wayne, etc. 



Before General Wayne retired from the \'alley, his foresight 
suggested to him that the erection of a military post near the 
confluence of Swan creek with the Mauraee river, would secure 
to his government more than all the advantages which could be 
derived by the possession of the British fort Miami. Under Ids 
orders, therefore, a stockade was built below the mouth of Swan 
creek, and placed in charge of Captain J. Rhea, who held it until 
after the evacuation of all the ]3riti8h posts in the Northwest, which 
occurred in i)ursuance of Jay's treaty. The remains of this fortifi- 
cation were examined by (leneral John E. Hunt, in his early years, 
when they were in good condition and preservation ; and they were 
not entirely obliterated as late as 1S.3G, when Richard :>rott nuide his 
lirst visit to Toledo. Samuel Andrews, now of the Toledo '• Blaile,'' 
and Charles A. Crane, now of East Toledo, and many others, have 
distinet recollections of this fort, which, in th.' natural features of 



94 General Wm/ne''s Death. 

the country, occupied a prominent position on the bluff, on the site 
near the south side of Summit, between Jefferson and Monroe 
streets. That a conflict had occurred at Toledo during Wayne's 
visit to the Maumee, appears probable, from the fact that early 
settlers procured liarvests of bullets on the ground above described, 
and also other antiquities in the vicinity of the Trinity Church 
building. In the work of grading the street-s, human bones, and 
remains of garments, to which buttons were attached, were exhumed 
in considerable quantities ; thus affording evidence that a sangui- 
nary conflict had occurred on the plateau now in possession of 
the busy throng who have established a commercial empire at 
Toledo. 

On the 27th, the troops took up their march, devastating every 
village and field on the line to Fort Defiance, which they proceeded 
to render more substantial. September 14th, the legion moved on 
to the Miami villages, where the long contemplated fort was 
constructed, and October 22d, 1794, placed under command of 
Lieutenant Colonel Hamtramck, who, after firing fifteen rounds 
of cannon, gave the name which the city now bears, of Fokt 
Wayne. 

On the 28th of October, having fully achieved the objects of the 
campaign, General Wayne started on his return with the main body 
of the regulars, for Port Greenville, where, in the following year, he 
rendered himself as conspicuous in statesmanship and diplomacy as 
in war, by a treaty which will be found in its proper place in this 
volume. 

Although given the sobriquet of " Mad Anthony," he was as prudent 
as he was valorous; and if there had been reasonable hope of reduc- 
ing the British Fort Miami, the attack would undoubtedly have been 
made. However, it became his happy privilege to take peaceful 
possession, by authority of President Washington, of this fort early in 
1796, when the British Government surrendered the northern posts, 
including Fort Miami, (built in 1794, by the Canadian Governor 
Simcoe, at the foot of the Rapids of the Maumee,) in pursuance of 
the treaty negotiated by Chief Justice Jay, in 1793. 

General Wayne's reception of this fort was one of his last official 
military acts, and occurred only a few months prior to his death, 
near Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was buried, until removed many 
years after, by his son, to the place of his nativity. 



Capfdiv William Wells. O;' 



CAI'TAIK WILLIAM "WELLS. 

As the name of this remarkable man is associated with some of 
tlie most prominent and thrilling events connected with the history 
of the Mauniee Valley, and his descendants were well known to 
tlie pioneers of the country, a brief sketch of him contained in 
McBride's Pioneer Biography, is here given : 

'• Of Captain William Wells' birth and parentage, we have no 
record. He was captured at the age of twelve years, when he was 
an inmate of the family of Hon. Kathaniel Pope, in Kentucky, by 
the ^liami tribe, and going through the formal adoption, lived to 
manhood among them, llis Indian name was Black Snake. Jle 
Ix'came quite an inlhiential man among them, and married a sister 
of the celebrated chief, Little Turtle, lie fought by the side of his 
chief in the contests with General Ilarmar and St. Clair. 'After- 
ward, in times of calm reflection, with dim memories still of his 
childhood home, of brothers and playmates, he seems to have 
been harassed with the thought that among the slain, by his 
own liand, may have been his kindred. The approach of W:iyne's 
army, in 1794, stirred anew conflicting emotions, based upon indis- 
tinct recollections of early ties, of country and kindred on the one 
hand, and existing attachments of wife and children on the other, 
lie resolved to make his history known. With true Indian chanic- 
teristics, the secret pur})ose of leaving his adopted nation was, 
according to reliable tradition, made known in this manner: 
Taking with him tin- war-chief, Little Turtle, to a favorite spot 
on the banks of the Maumee, Wells said: ' I leave now your nation 
for my own people. We have long been friends. We are frit-nds 
yi't, until the sun reaches a certain hight (which he indicated). 
From that time we arc enemies. Then, if you wish to kill me, 
you may. If I want to kill you, I may.' At the appointed hour, 
crossing the river, Captain Wells disappeared in the forest, taking 
an easterly direction to strike the trail of Wayne's army. Obtain- 
ing an interview with General Wayne, he became ever afterward the 
faithful friend of the Americans. — Hon. J. L. Williams' Historical 
Sketch of the First Presbijterian Church of Fort ]Vai/nc, p. 17. 

" lie was made captain of the spies connected with Wayne's army. 
His adventures in that capacity are sulliciently detailed by Air. 
McBride. After the treaty of (rreenville, and the establishment 
of ])eace, he was joined l)y his wife and family, *and settled at the 
' old orchard,' a sliort distance from the confluence of the .St. Mary 
and St. Joseph, on the banks of a small stream there, afterward 
called * Spy Kun,' and which still bears that name. The govirn- 
nn-nt subsiH|Ucntly granted him a j»re-eniption of some thn-i- hundird 
and twenty acres of land, including his imjirovcment, the old orchard, 
etc. Wells afterward also became, by appointment of the govern- 



96 In CommaThd at Fort Wayne. 



ment, Indian agent here (Fort Wayne), in which capacity he served 
several years.' — Brice's History of Fort Wayne, p. 148, 

" Captain Wells, by his first wife, had three daughters and one 
son. The daughters were Mrs. Judge Wolcott, of Maumee City, 
Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Hackley, of Fort Wayne. Mr. Williams says 
of them: 'Of the first members of this church, two were half 
Indians, who had before, in 1820, joined the Baptist Church under 
the labors of Eev. Mr. McCoy, missionary to the Indians at this 

post They were educated in Kentucky, and are yet 

kindly remembered by some in this church and community, as 
ladies of refinement and intelligent piety.' — p. 16, 17. The son, 
Wayne Wells, died when a young man, while crossing Lake Erie, in 
1823. Captain Wells afterward married another sister of Little 
Turtle. They had one daughter, Jane, who married a son of an 
old Fort Wayne pioneer, Matthew Griggs, and settled at Peru, 
Indiana. 

"In the war of 1812, Captain Wells was in command at Fort 
Wayne. When he heard of General Hull's orders for the evacuation 
of Fort Dearborn, he made a rapid march to reinforce Captain 
Heald, and to ' assist in defending the fort, or prevent his exposure 
to certain destruction by an attempt to reach the head of the 
Maumee. But he was too late. All means for maintaining a siege 
had been destroyed a few hours before, and every preparation had 
been made for leaving the post next day.' On the morning of the 
15th of August, the little company, with Captain AVells and his 
Miamis, evacuated the fort and moved along the shore till they came 
to Sand Hills, when they were attacked by five hundred ' treacher- 
ous and cowardly Pottawatomies.' ' The conflict was short, desper- 
ate, and bloody. Two-thirds of the white people were slain or 
wounded, and all the horses, provisions, and baggage lost. Only 
twenty-eight strong men remained to brave the fury of about five 
hundred Indians, who had lost but fifteen in the conflict.' ' Captain 
Wells displayed the greatest coolness and gallantry. He was by the 
side of his niece (Mrs. Captain Heald), when tlie conflict began. 
'We have not the slightest chance for life,' he said, 'we must part to 
meet no more in this world — God bless you.' With these words he 
dashed forward with the rest. In the midst of the fight, he saw a 
young warrior painted like a demon climb into a wagon in which 
'w^ere twelve children of the white people, and tomahawked tliem 
all! Forgetting his own immediate danger, Wells exclaimed: 'If 
that is their game, butchering women and children, I'll kill too.' 
He instantly dashed toward the Indian camp, where they had left 
their squaws and little ones, hotly pursued by swift-footed young 
warriors, who sent many a rifle ball after him. He lay close 
to his horse's neck, and turned and fired occasionally upon his 
pursuers. When he had got almost beyond the range of their rifles, 
a ball killed his horse and wounded himself severely in the leg. 
The young savages rushed forward with a demoniac yell to make 



Otlier Incidents in his Life. 07 



him a prisoner, and reserve him for torture,. for he was to them an 
arch ott'onder. Hid friends, AVin-ne-raeg and Wau-ban-sec, vainly 
attompted to save him from liis fate. lie knew the temper and 
in*actices of tlie savages well, and resolved not to be made a captive. 
He taunted them with the most insulting ei)ithets to ]>rovoke them 
to kill him instantly. At length he called one of the fiery young 
warriors I'er-so-tum (a i<qi(((w), which so enraged him that he killed 
"Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped upon his l)ody, cut out 
his heart, and ate a portion of the warm and half-palpitating morsel, 
with savage delight." — Lossin(/\<i Field Book of the 117//- of 1812, 
p. :W9. 

In a sketch in the same volume, contributed by Mr. ^MeDunakl, 
the following is extracted: 

" General Wayne liad a bold, vigilant, and dexterous enemy to 
contend with. It became indispensable for him to use the utmost 
caution in his movements, to guard against surprise. To secure his 
army against the possibility of being ambuscaded, he employed a 
number of the best Avoodsmen the frontier alforded, to act as spies 
(U- rangers. Captain Ephraim Kibby, one of the first settlers at 
Columbia, eiglit miles above Cincinnati, who had distinguished 
himself as a bold and intrepid soldier, in defending that infant 
settlement, commanded the principal part of the spies. The writer 
of this article, and his brother Thomas, were attached to Caj)tain 
Kibby's company of rangers. This will account lor the author's 
intimate knowledge of the subject of which he is giving a relation. 
A very effective division of the spies was commanded by Captain 
William Wells. 

" Captain "Wells had been taken prisoner by the Indians when 
quite a youth ; he grew to manhood with them, and consequently 
was well acquainteil with all their wiles and stratagems. From 
causes not now remembered, about eighteen months previous to the 
time of which I am writing, he Ictt the Indians and returned to his 
relatives and friemls in civilized life. 

"Being raised by the Indians, well ac<juainted with the country 
which was about to be the theater of action, tsdking several of tluir 
languages fiuently, and, withal, desperately brave, such a soldier 
was a real, effective acquisition to the army. Cajjtain Wells was 
the same gentleman namc<l by the Rev. O. ^I. Spencer, in the narra- 
tive of his capture by the Indians, and release from captivity. It 
was to Captain Wells that Mr. Spencer was primarily indebted for 
his liberty. {Scr Spencer's yarriifive. page 10.5.) I am particular 
in describing this corps of the army, as they performed more real 
service than any other. 

"Attached to Captain Wells' command Avrre the following men : 
Robert McClellan (whos ■ name has been since immortalized by the 
graphic pen of Washington Irving, in his " Astoria ") was one of 
the most athletic and active men on foot that ha.s appeared on this 

8 



98 Other Incidents in liis Life. 



globe. On the grand parade at Fort Greenville, where the ground 
was very little inclined, to show his activity, he leaped over a road- 
wagon with the cover stretched over ; the wagon and bows were 
eight and a halt feet high. Next was Henry Miller. He and a 
younger brother named Christopher had been made captives by the 
Indians when young, and adopted into an Indian family. Henry 
Miller lived with them till he was about twenty-four yeai's of age ; 
and, although he had adopted all their manners and customs, he, at 
that age, began to think of returning to his relatives among the 
whites. The longer he reflected on the subject the stronger his 
resolution grew to make an attempt to leave the Indians. He 
communicated his intention to his brother Christopher, and used 
every reason he was capable of, to induce his brother to accompany 
him in his flight. All his arguments were ineffectual. Christopher 
was young when made captive — he was now a good hunter, an 
expert woodsman, and, in the full sense of the word, a free and 
independent Indian. Henry Miller si^tofl" alone through the woods, 
and arrived safe among his friends in Kentucky. Captain Wells 
was well acquainted with Miller during- his captivity, and knew that 
he possessed that firm intrepidity which would render him a valua- 
ble companion in time of need. To these were added a Mr. 
Hickman and Mr. Thorp, who were men of tried worth in Indian 
warfare. 

" Captain Wells and his four companions were confidential and 
privileged gentlemen in camp, who were only called upon to do duty 
upon very particular and intei-esting occasions. They were permitted 
a carte blanche among the horses of the dragoons, and when upon 
duty went well mounted ; whilst the spies commanded by Captain 
Kibby went on foot, and were kept constantly on the alert, scour- 
ing the country in every direction. 

" The headquarters of the army being at Fort Greenville, in the 
month of June, li'94. General Wayne despatched Captain Wells 
and his company, with orders to bring into camp an Indian as a 
prisoner, in order that he could interrogate him as to the future 
intentions of the enemy. Captain Wells proceeded with cautious 
steps through the Indian country. He crossed the river St. Mary, 
and thence to the river Auglaize, without meeting any straggling 
party ot Indians. In passing up the Auglaize they discovered a 
smoke; they then dismounted, tied their horses, and proceeded 
cautiously to reconnoiter the enemy. They found three Indians 
camped on a high, open piece of ground, clear of brush or any 
underwood. As it was open woods, they found it would be diflicult 
to approach the camp without being discovered. Whilst they were 
reconnoitering, they saw not very distant from the camp, a tree 
which had lately fallen. They returned and went round the camp 
so as to get the top of the fallen tree between them and the Indians. 
The tree-top being full of leaves would serve as a shelter to screen 
them from observation. They went forward upon their hands and 



Capture of Christiypher M'ilhv. 90 



knees, with the noiseless movements of tliu cat, till they reacheri 
the tree-top. They were now within seventy or eii^hty yards of tlie 
camp. The Indians were sitting or standing ahont the tire, roasting 
their venison, lauiihin*^ and making other merry antic-s, little dream- 
ing that <leath was about stealing a mareli upon them. Arrivi-d at 
the tallen tree their purpose ot attaek was soon settle<l : they deter- 
mined to kill two ol" the enemy and make the third prisoner. 
McCIellan, who, it will be remembered, was almost as swift on foot 
as a deer of the forest, was to catch the Indian, whilst to Wells and 
Miller was confided the duty of shooting the other two. One of 
them was to shoot the one on the right, the other the one on the 
left. Their rifies were in prime order, the muzzles of their guns 
were placed on the log of tlie fallen tree, the sights were aimed for 
the Indians" hearts — whiz went the balls, an(l both Indians fell. 
Before the smoke of the burnt powder had risen six feet, McCIellan 
was running at fidl stretch, with tomahawk in hand, for the Indian. 
The Indian bounded otf at the top of his speed, and made down 
the river; but by eontinuing in that direction he discovered that 
McCIellan wo\dd head him. He turned his course an<l made for 
the river. The river here had a blutl' liank about twenty feet high. 
When he came to the bank he sprang down into the river, the 
bottom of which was a soft mud, into which he sunk to the mid- 
dle. While he was endeavoring to extricate himself out ot the 
mud. McCIellan came to the top of the high bank, an<l, without 
hesitation, sprang upon him as. he was wallowing in the mire. The 
Indian drew his knife — MeCUellan raised his tomahawk — told him 
to throw down his knife, or he would kill him instantly. He threw 
down his knife, and surrendered without any further eftort at 
resistance. 

" By the time the scuffle ha<l ceased in the mire. Wells and his 
companions came to the Itank, and discovered McCIellan and the 
Indian <piietly sticking in the mire. As their prisonir was now 
secure, they did not think it prudent to take the fearful leap I he 
others had done. They selected a place where the bank was less 
precipitous, went down and dragged the captive out of the mud and 
tied him. He was very .»ulky. and refused to speak either Indian or 
English. Some of the party went back for their horses, whilst 
otiiers washed the mud an<l jjaint from the pri.-^oner. When washed 
he turned out to be a white man, but still refused tp sjjcak or give 
any account of himself. The party scalj»ed tlie two Indians whom 
they had shot, ;ind then set otf with tlieir jtrisoner for head(piarters. 
Whilst on their return to Fort (Greenville, Henry Miller began to 
admit the idea that it was possible their prisoner was his brother 
Christopher, whom hi- hail left with the In<lians some years previ- 
ous. I'nder this impression he rode alongsid*- of him an<l called 
him by his Indian name. At the sound of his name he started, and 
stared round, and eagerly intpiired how he came to know his name. 
The mystery was soon explained-.-their prisoner was indeed Chris- 



100 Release of Cliristopher liiller. 



topher Miller ! A mysterious providence appears to have placed 
Christopher Miller in a situation in the camp by which his lite was 
preserved. Had he been standing on the right or left he would 
inevitably have been killed. But that fate which appears to have 
doomed the Indian race to extinction permitted the white man to 
live, whilst the Indians were jjermitted to meet the ' fate they can 
not shun.' 

" Captain Wells arrived safely with their prisoner at Fort Green- 
ville. He was placed in the guard house, where General Wayne 
frequently interrogated him as to what he knew of the future inten- 
tions of the Indians. Captain AVells and Henry Miller were almost 
constantly with Christopher in the guard house, urging him to leave 
oft' the thought of living longer with the Indians, and to join his 
relatives among the whites. Christopher, for some time, was 
reserved and sulky, but at length became more cheerful, and agreed, 
if they would release him from confinement, that he would remain 
with the whites. Captain Wells and Henry Miller solicited General 
Wayne for Christopher's liberty. General Wayne could scarcely 
deny such pleaders any request they could make, and, without hesi- 
tation, ordered Christopher Miller to be set at liberty, remarking that 
should he deceive them and return to the enemy, they Avould be but 
one stronger. Christopher was set at liberty, and appeared pleased 
with his change of situation. He was mounted on a fine horse, and 
otherwise well equipped for war. He joined the company with 
Captain Wells and his brother, and fought bravely against the 
Indians during the continuance of the war. He Avas true to his 
word, and upon every occasion proved himself an intrepid and 
daring soldier. 

" As soon as Captain Wells and company had rested themselves 
and recruited their horses, they were anxious for another ioiit with 
the red men. Time, without action, was irksome to such stirring- 
spirits. Early in July, they left Greenville; their company was 
then strengthened by the addition of Christopher; their orders 
were to bring in prisoners. They pushed through the country, 
always dressed and painted in Indian style; they passed on, cross- 
ing the river St. Mary, and then through the country near to the 
river Auglaize, where they met a single Indian, and called to him 
to surrender. This man, notwithstanding that the whites were six 
against one, refused, to surrender. He leveled his rifle, and, as the 
whites were approaching him on horseback, he fired, but missed 
his mark, and then took to his heels to eftect his escape. The 
undergrowth of brush was so very thick that he gained upon 
his pursuers. McClellan and Christopher Miller dismounted, and 
McOlellan soon overhauled him. The Indian, finding himself over- 
taken by his pursuers, turned round and made a blow at McClellan 
wath his rifle, which was parried. As McClellan's intention was 
not to kill, he kept him at bay till Christopher Miller came up, 
when they closed in upon him and made him prisoner without 



The Heroic Captain WelU. 101 



receiving: any injury. They tiirnecl about for headquarters, and 
arrived safely at Fort Greenville. Their prisoner was reputed to 
be a Pottawotainie ehief, M'liose courage and ])row'S8 was scarcely 
ecpialed. As Christopher Miller had pertornied his jiart on this 
occasion to the entire satisfaction of the brave .spirits with whom 
he acted, he had, as he merited, their entire confidence. 

"On one of Captain Wells' peregrinations through tlie Indian 
country, as lie came to the bank of the river St. Marv, he discov- 
ered a family ot Indians coming up the river in a canoe. He 
dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of the river, 
whilst he went himself to the l)auk, in open view, and called to the 
Indi.ans to come over. As lie was dressed in Indian style, and 
spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, not expecting 
an enemy in that part of the country, without any suspicion of 
danger, went across the river. The moment the canoe struck the 
shore. Wells heard the cocks of his comrades' riHes cry, ' nick, nick,' 
as they prepared to shoot the Indians; but who sliould be in the 
canoe liut his Indian father an<l mother, with their children! As 
his comrades were coming forward Avith their ritles cocked, ready 
to pour in the deadly storm upon the devoted Indians, Wells called 
to them to hold their hands and desist. He tlien informed them 
whi> those Indians were, and solemnly declared, that the man who 
would attempt to injure on? of them, would receive a ball in his 
head. He said to his men, that "that family had fed him when he 
was hungry, clothed him when he was naked, and kindly nursed 
him when sick; and in every respect Avere as kind and affectionate 
to him as they were to their own children.' 

" Those hardy soldiers approved of the motives of Captain Wells' 
Ii'uity to the enemy. They threw down their rifles and tomahaws, 
went to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in 
the most friendly manner. Captain Wells a.ssured them they had 
nothing to fear from him; and after talking with them to dispel 
their fears, he .said, 'that General Wayne was approaching with an 
'worwhelming force; that the best thing the Indians could do was 

> make peace; that the white men did not wish to continue the 
»v.ir.' He urged his Indian father for the future to keep out of 
the reach of danger. Ho then bade them farewell ; they apjiearetl 
grateful for his clemency, They then pushed off their canoe, ami 
went down the river as last as they could propel her. 

•' Captain Wells and his comrades, though perfect desperadoes in 
tight, upon this occasion prf»ve<l they largely possessed that real 
gratitude and benevolence of heart, which docs honor to human 
kind. 

" Early in the month of August, when the main army had arrived 
at the ])lace sul»sc«juently designated as Fort Defiance, General 
Wayne wished to be informed of the intentions of the enemy. For 
this purpose, Captain Wells was again despatched to bring in 
another prisoner. The distance from Fort Defiance to the British 



102 Other Adventures of the 



fort, near the mouth of the Maumee river, was only forty-five miles, 
and he would not have to travel far before he would find Indians. 
As his object was to bring in a prisoner, it became necessary for 
him to keep out of the way of large parties, and endeavor to fall 
in with some stragglers, who might be easily subdued and captured. 

" They went cautiously down the river Maumee, till they came 
opposite the site on which Fort Meigs was erected by General 
Harrison, in 1813. '['his was two miles above the British fort, then 
called Fort Campbell. On the west bank of the Maumee was an 
Indian village. Wells and his party rode into the village, as if they 
had just come from the British fort. Being dressed and painted in 
complete Indian style, they rode through the village, occasionally 
stopping and talking to the Indians in their own language. No 
suspicion of who they were was excited, the enemy believing them 
to be Indians from a distance, coming to take a part in the battle 
which they all knew was shortly to be fought. After they had 
passed the village some distance, they fell \n with an Indian man 
and woman on horseback, who were returning to the town from 
hunting. This man and woman were made captives without resist- 
ance. They then set otf for Fort Defiance. 

" As they were rapidly proceeding up the Maumee river, a little 
after dark, they came near a large encampment of Indians, who 
were merrily amusing themselves ai'ound their camp-fires. Their 
prisoners were ordered to be silent, under pain of instant death. 
They went round the camp with their prisoners, till they got about 
half a mile above it, where they halted to consult on their future 
operations. After consultation, they concluded to gag and tie their 
prisoners, and ride back to the Indian camp, and give them a rally, 
in which each should kill his Indian. They deliberately got down, 
gagged and fastened their prisoners to trees, rode boldly into the 
Indian encampment, and halted, with their rifles lying across the 
pummels of their saddles. They inquired when last they had heard 
of General Wayne, and the movements of his army; how soon, and 
wluere it was expected the battle would be fought. The Indians 
who were standing around Wells and his desperadoes, were very 
communicative, answering all their interrogatories without suspect- 
ing any deceit in their visitors. At length, an Indian, who was 
sitting some distance from them, -said, in an undertone, in another 
tongue, to some who were near him, that he suspected that these 
strangers had some mischief in their heads. Wells overheard what 
he said, and immediately gave the preconcerted signal, and each 
fired his rifle into the body of an Indian, at not more than six leet 
distance. The Indian who had suspected them, the moment he 
made the remark, and a number of others, rose up with their rifles 
in their hands, but not before Wells and his party had each shot an 
Indian. As soon as Wells and his party fired, they put spurs to 
their horses, laying with their breasts on the horses' necks, so as to 
lessen the mark for the enemy to fire at. They had not got out of 



Hei'oie Cwptain Wd/s. 10?> 



the light of the camp-fire, before the Indians shot at them. As 
McCleil.tn lav close on his horse's neck, he was shot, the ball passing 
un«U'r his shouMer-blatk', and coming nut at the top of his shouMcr. 
Cajttain Wells was shot through the arm on which he carried his 
ritie: the arm was broken, and his trusty rifle fell. 

" After having performed this act of military supererogation, they 
rode at full speed to where their captives were confined, mounted 
them on horses, and set ofi' lor Fort Defiance. Captain Wells and 
McClellan were severely wounded; and to Fort Defiance, a distance 
of about thirty miles, they had to travel, before they (;ould rest or 
receive the aid ot a surgeon. As their march would Vx- slow and 
painful, one of the party was dispatched at full speed to Fort Defi- 
ance for a guard and a surgeon. As soon as Captain Wells" messen- 
ger arrived at F'ort Defiance, with the tidings of the woun<ls and 
perilous situation of those heroic and faithful spies, very great 
sympathy was manifested in the minds of all. General Wayne's 
feeling for the suftering soldier was at all times quick and sensitive ; 
we can then imagine \u>\\ intense was his solicitude, when informed 
of the surterings and perils of his confidential and chosen band. 
Without a moment's delay, he dispatched a surgeon, and a comi)any 
of the swiftest dragoons, to meet, assist, and guard these brave 
fellows to headquarters. Suffice it to say, they arrived safely in 
camp, and the wounded recovered in due course of time. 

"As the battle was fought, and a brilliant victory won, a few days 
after this attair took place. Captain Wells and his daring comrades, 
were not engaged in any further acts of hostility, till the war with 
the Indians jvas auspiciously concluded by a la.sting treaty of 
peace." 

From the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, published at Hart- 
ford, the fbllowinff extracts from a report made to the Trustees of 
the Missionary Society of Connecticut, by Kev. David Bacon, is 
reproduced here, in order to exhibit the religious and moral condi- 
tion of the race which then maintained dominion in the Maumet* 
Valley : 

"The '29th of April, lH()-2, sat out for the Miami in a canoe with 
Beamont and the man th.at I had hired; but by reason of unfavora- 
ble winds, we did not arrive at the mouth of the river until the 4th 
of May. We were much fatigued with hard rowing, and were 
several times in <langer by the violence of the waves, but God wsis 
better to us tiian our fears. I was obliged to go without the public 
interpreter, as he could not be spared. I starte<l, however, with 
hopes of obtaining his brother, who, as I w.is told, livetl but a few 
miles out of my way. Jiut after traveling till late in tin- night to 
see him, with limbs that wer*- wearied with the fatigues of the <lay, 
I was disappointed of him, al.so. But when 1 came to tin- Mianii, I 
learned the reason of these disappointments; tor there 1 found an 



104 Moral and Religious Condition of the 



excellent interpreter, in whom the Indians place the utmost confi- 
dence, and who served me faithfully for a much less sum than what 
either of the others would have asked. His name is William 
Dragoo. He appears to be a very worthy man, considering the 
advantages he has enjoyed — was taken prisoner on the Mononga- 
hela, when he was ten years of age, and adopted into the head 
family of the nation, and is considered a chief. 

" When I ari'ived at the mouth of the river, the most of the chiefs 
were drunk at the traders above. After remaining there two days, 
and finding it uncertain when they would be down, we went i;p and 
stored my provisions and farming tools at Fort Miami, eighteen 
miles above. Hearing there that the most of them had gone down, 
we returned the next day to the mouth. The day after I found that 
Little Otter, the head chief, and one other, were all that were in 
the main village where we were, and that the rest all lay drunk in 
the neighboring villages. In the afternoon, I spent several hours 
with these two, in explaining to them the origin and designs of the 
Missionary Society, and the benefits, temporal and spiritual, that 
they might expect to receive from having me among them. They 
appeared to pay good attention, and when I had concluded. Little 
Otter observed in reply, that the Great Spirit had been listening, 
and that they and their young men had been listening to all I had 
said ; that he believed it was true ; that the air appeared clear and 
no clouds in the way, and that he would assemble his chiefs and 
hear me again as soon as possible ; but that till then, he could give 
me no further answer. 

" This was Saturday, the 8th. Through the Sabbath following, 
we enjoyed peace and quietness in the midst of them. Hitherto, 
the most of them had remained sober. But the folloAving night we 
were disturbed by the rattles and drums of a numl^er of individuals 
who spent the night in conjuring over a poor sick child in order to 
save its life ; but it died within a day or two after. Near morning, 
they began to drink, and by eight o'clock, several got to fighting. 
But at the request of the sober Indians, who chose not to interfere, 
we parted them; and after some time, made out to pacify them, 
though one of them was so far enraged as to attempt to murder his 
antagonist. As soon as this disturbance had subsided, I called on 
Little Otter, who informed me that he should not be able to collect 
his chiefs that day, as we had expected, as most of them were still 
drunk; but added, that they would be sober the next day, as they 
were preparing to have a dance the Tuesday night following, and 
that if it was possible, he would assemble them in season to attend 
to my business first; though he thought it doubtful whether they 
would be able to give me a hearing till after the dance. 

■'The next day he called upon me and informed me that they 
would not be collected in season, and observed that as I was sent 
there by the Great Spirit, and my business was important, it would 
pot do to have it hurried; and that as it was necessary to hav§ 



Indians in the Valley in 1802. 105 



them all sober before we enterofi on the business, ho wished me to 
wait tlireo days, as they would not l)c incpared sooner, and as I 
might ex})ect by that time to lind them wise, and ready to attcncl 
to me. As there were sick people \?ho needed my cliarity, and as 
others were constantly beirging from me, I had then tlisposed of ail 
my provisions, and fouml it necessary to go up to the fort for more. 
When I arrived at my interpreters, which was one mile above. I 
found there the head chief of Rush<laboo. who is very troublesome 
when in licpior. I perceived that he was intoxicated. an<l soon 
discovered by his gestures, and the tone of his voice, while talking 
with another Indian, that he had something against me. Within 
a few minutes he accosted me in an angry maimer, told me that lie 
had heard bad news — that he l>ad been informed that tlie white 
people were a going to collect all the Indians together, and then 
fall upon them and kill them ; and that he believed that 1 had come 
upon that business. But I soon convinced him, by means of my 
interpreter, that I had neither ability nor inclination to destroy 
them ; and that I had come among them to be one ot their people, 
and to do them all the good that was in my power. He then gave 
me his hand and told me he would be my friend; .but beggeil that I 
would lend him a dollar to get some whiskey. But I put him off by 
telling him that I had been so long from home, that I had sjK'ut the 
most of my mouey, and that if I had to remain there nnich longer 
I did not know but I should have to call on him for assistance 
But before we parted, lie kissed me more times than I couhl have 
wished; and hugged me till he obliged me to return the compliment. 
"As we had a strong head wind, it was with difficulty that we 
got but five miles u]) the river that afternoon. We ('ncamjied about 
a quarter of a mile above their dancing ground. .My interpreter 
advised me to go with him to see them that evening ; and I had a 
desire to be present, as I supposed that I might acrpiire some infor- 
mation that might be useful; l)Ut I thought it would not be j^rudent 
to be among them that night, as I knew that some of them were 
intoxicated, and that such would be apt to be jealous of me at that 
time; :ind that nothing would be too absurd for their imaginations 
to conceive, or too cruel for their hands to jierform. But as a son of 
the head chief was sent early next morning to invite me down, I went 
to see them. I had the greater desire to go, as this is their annii.al 
conjuration-dance, which is celebrated every spring, on their return 
from hunting, and at no other time in the year. No one is sufVertd 
lo take a part in it who has not served an apprenticeship, and been 
regularly admitted. Their number used to be but small, :ind 
consisted of men only; but is now very great, and consists of men 
anil women, and children that are .above the age of twelve or fifteen. 
It appears to be a very growing evil among them of late; and is as 
much of a secret as Free Masonry. ]\ly interpreter, who has l»een 
l)re<l up with them from a chihl. told me. that he knew nothing 
;i1)Out it, as he had not thought fit to join them. Satan has not 



106 Moral amd Religious Condition of the 



been ignorant of what has been doing of late for the spread of the 
gospel among them ; and I believe that this and spirituous liquor 
are the principal engines which he is employing against it. And 
I doubt not but he is flattering* himself with hopes of success ; and 
certainly appearances seem to be in his favor. Mr. Anderson, a 
respectable trader at Fort Miami, told me that they had been grow- 
ing worse and worse every year since he had been acquainted with 
them, which is six or seven years ; and that they have gone much 
greater lengths this year than he has ever known them before. He 
assured me that it was a fact, that they had lain drunk this spring, 
as much as ten or fifteen days, at several different traders above 
him; and that some of them had gone fifteen days without tasting a 
mouthful of victuals while they were in that situation. Mr. Ander- 
son disapproves of the practice ; and by not complying with it, has 
lost the trade, and has turned his attention to his farm. He treated 
me very kindly, and seemed friendly to my designs, and very desir- 
ous to have me come out there. 

" The leaders of the dance I have mentioned, may be called 
conjurers or doctors. They are never without large bags of medi- 
cine, and their conjuring apparatus ; and are supposed, by the 
Indians, to possess great skill in medicine, and great power in 
bewitching. Sickness and ill-success in hunting are commonly 
ascribed to their agency. It is believed that they are able to poison 
or bewitch people at any distance ; or to afford relief to those who 
are poisoned or bewitched ; which they suppose to be the difficulty 
with the most who are sick. And if any die without applying to 
one of these men, their death is usually attributed to this cause. It 
is supposed, likewise, that they are able to heal the sick, where the 
Great Spirit does not interfere. In short, life and death, in most 
instances, are considered to be at their disposal. In cases of 
extreme illness, they often send great distances for the most noted, 
and give them whatever they ask, that is at their disposal, which is 
commonly a large sum, besides storing them with a plenty of 
provisions, especially with liquor. It is not uncommon for one of 
this description to require a horse, saddle and bridle before he will 
undertake to eflfect the cure. And if he does not succeed in the 
attempt, in order to give satisfaction, has only to report the Great 
Spirit killed him. Their pupils, before they can be admitted into 
their dance, are required to encamp one winter at least near one 
of their order, for the purpose of receiving their education. Then, 
when they carry their preceptor a supply of the best provisions 
they can procure, he will condescend to instruct them in medicine, 
and learn them the songs and dances that are peculiar to themselves. 
And at the time they are admitted into the dance, they have to 
give each of the conjurers a blanket or shirt, or something equiva- 
Tent. The Indians frequently have other dances, in which any one 
is allowed to take a part ; but no one is admitted into this upon 
cheaper terms. Then, after serving a number of years in this way, 



Indians in the Valley in 1802. lOT 



if there is not likely to be too many of their order, they will 
instruct them in the black art, and receive them into their number, 
for about one hundre<l dollars. But this revenue arisinf; from their 
tlisciples is not all : No one dares refuse them a share of any ihinv 
(hoy have, if tiny do but ask for it. They are not chiefs, and have 
notliinuj to say in pul)lic councils; ])ut they are superior to chiefs. 
The most of the chiefs have some litth' respect paid to them by the 
common people, and they may do somethin<i by a<lvice and persua- 
sion ; but tiiey have no authority or power to enforce their com- 
mands; and they receive no emoluments; and commonly suffer as 
mucli from indiLjence as any in the nation. With few exceptions, 
the only honor put upon them, that is worth mentionin<;, is, that 
they are allowed to transact national affairs, and their voice allowed 
to be decisive in councils. But in all their decisions, they must 
take care that they do not offend their conjurers ; as they stand in 
as slavish fear of them as any of the common people. So that these 
vile imposters are, in fact, the lords and ejovernors of the nation. 
These are a set of enemies that I was not aware of I obtained 
the chief of my information respecting them from Mr. Anderson 
and my interpreter, at the Miami, whose testimony I am warranted 
to rely on. It has likewise been confirmed to me by others. 

"I tliink it is not reasonable to suppose that the chiefs will be 
generally disposed to be friendly to the preaching of the gospel 
among them, when they come to find that it is addressed to them 
as well as others; as tliose who pride themselves in being the first 
in the nation, and the most tit to give instructions, will doubtless 
be the last to receive them. But if I mistake not. the conjurers 
will be much the most bitter, active and successful opposers; for 
if they have but half an eye, they will peiceive at once that their 
craft is in danger. Surely, no Missionary, who views things as I do, 
will ever encounter and withstand the unite<l influence of these ene- 
mies of all righteousness, and the overbearing inlluetice of spirituous 
li(juor, without a firm and steadfast faith in Him, who has sulnlued 
principalities and powers, and is able to subdue all things to himself. 
(4od grant that I may soon experience those; unknown degrees of 
grace which are necessary to tit me for the arduous conflict. 

•' I have conversed with trad(M-s and interpreters from most of the 
different nations in this country, and from what I can learn, there 
aie none but what acknowledge that there is a Great and Good 
Spirit, who has made all things ; and that there is a bad spirit, liut 
what seems remarkable is, that most, if not all their prayers and 
s.acritices are ottered to the bad spirit. The reason they assign for 
it is, that the good Spirit will not hurt them; and that the liad 
spirit will, if they do not make use of these to pacify him. It seems 
that they are literally, worshipers of devils ; .and I have no doubt 
but they receive special assistance from them. Accconling to 
report, the exploits of the conjurers in their d.ances, could not be 
performed without the evil agency of invisible beings, iluwever 



108 Moral and Meligioiis Condition of the 



some may sneer at the idea, I think that it is not nnscriptural ; and 
they cannot be rationally accounted for in any other way. These 
exploits are performed only in the night. What they are, I shall 
not imdertake to say, as I was not present to see them. While I 
was there, the chief of their time was taken up in conjuring over 
their medicine, and in rattling and drumming, singing and dancing. 
Each of these dancers had skins of fur-animals filled with pulverized 
medicine, which they would puff into each other's faces as they were 
dancing. This had very different effects on different persons. My 
interpreter informed me that, when it first strikes the face of the 
newly received members, they fall down motionless, and remain for 
ten or fifteen minutes with scarce any signs of life. As they Avere 
admitted at the beginning of the dance, I was not witness to this 
myself; but when I came there tliey looked like death, and would 
fall as soon as it reached them, unless held up ; but they would 
commoul}^ rise again within the space of one or two minutes. On 
the old ones, who were most experienced, it appeared to have much 
less efiect. They did not fall ; but they conducted much like 
persons strangled with suuli. I was told by my interpreter, that 
when drunken Indians, who did not belong to the dance, have 
ventured in among them, and accidentally received some of the 
medicine, it has very near cost them their lives. From all this, I 
concluded that it was composed of very poisonous materials ; and 
that the different effects Avhich it had on different persons, was 
owing to habit. The dancers appeared to be about one hundred 
and fifty in number, and very gaily dressed. Their parade was 
upon a beautiful eminence xipon the bank of the river. The 
turf was taken off" of their dancing ground, which was about 
twenty feet in widtii and forty in length. In the middle stood a 
red post with a white feather in the top, round which the conjurers 
took their stand, who seemed to be musicians to the rest, Avho Avere 
dancing round them. On each side they had bark roofs erected, 
under which they smoked their pipes and refreshed themselves 
when fatigued. The most of them had begun to be intoxicated, 
and some of them were very noisy and quarrelsome ; but when they 
attempted to fight, the rest would hold them till they g*ot pacified, 
or till they got them drunk enough to sleep. The Indians who did 
not belong to the dance, were seated round at some distance from 
the rest, and were merely spectators. I took my stand by the side 
of my interpreter at the end of the bark hut, within four or five 
rods of them, where I had a fair prospect. While I was standing 
there, I recollect to have seen one of the conjurers walking about 
for some time, and looking at me, but I paid no attention to him 
till I saw him advancing very fast towards me, with a countenance 
that bespake bad intentions. He was just enough in liquor to feel 
insolent and courageous. 'J'he nearer he advanced, his countenance 
assumed a more threatening aspect. By the time he came within a 
rod of me, while approacliing me with greater speed, he railed oiit 



Indians in the Valley in 1602. 109 



at me, floiirishinfr liis fist, and charged ine with despising them, and 
with coming there to make game of Miem. I must acknowledge, 
with shame, that I was daunted at tlie first shock, being off from 
my guard : but on hxtking to d'od for grace ancl strength, and 
recollecting that (his enemy could not raise his hand -without His 
agency. I was immediately strengthened. As soon as the words were 
interpreted to me, I replied that lie was mistaken, and that what he 
said was not true ; that I had a great regard for the Indians, and 
had come out in a friendly manner to visit them, in order to do 
them good — that I had been invited there by one of his people, but 
that I had not come there with the least intention of making sport 
of them. This, however, did not satisfy him, for he immediately 
added, that he supposed that T thought that he was i)Oor, and that 
he did not know much ; but he said that he had projjerty at 
home, and that he thought himself as good as a Avhite man. I 
replied, that I had a good opinion of the abilities of the Indians, 
and that he had no reason to think that I was disposed to under- 
value them, as I liad come out to live with them, to be one of their 
people, if they were willing to receive me. But he said that he did 
not want to have me stay there ; and observed that when the 
Fiench came into this country, the "Wyandots and some others 
embraced their religion, but that they had not, and did not like it, 
and had always continued in their own way; and added, that the 
Great Spirit had made him an Indian, made him red, and made him 
every way just as he was, and placed him there on that ground ; and 
said that he meant to remain just as he was; and that he did not 
mean to hear to me. He added further, as I understood my inter- 
]n-eter, that they did not pray; but, pointing to the dance, said that 
that was the way they did. I suppose liis meaning was, that tliey 
did not pray to the Good Spirit, but to the bad spirit, as that is 
undoubtedly the case when they are conjuring. I told him that I 
was waiting to have a council with the chiefs ; and if they were not 
generally disposed to have mc stay. I should go away immediately. 
And I observed that, if 1 did stay, he or any other one would be at 
liberty to do just as they pleased about embracing my religion. He 
lield up his medicine bag, and said he sujiposed 1 thought that that 
was a l)ad thing, and that their way was a bad one : but he said that 
bag was a good thing, and that there was nothing bad in it; and 
that their way was a very good one, and much better for them than 
onrs. But he said if we thought our religion was so much better 
than theirs, he waiited to know why our people did not teach it to 
their forefathers, when they first came into this country. He said 
if our people had begun with the Indians then, that they might 
have learned our religion, and been all of our way now. ]\\\X he 
said their forefathers were all dead and gone; and they had contin- 
ued in their way so long, that they could not turn about now. I told 
him that our people d;d do something to Christianize the Indians 
then, that lived near tiiein, and that they had been doing something 



110 Moral and Religions Condition of the 



since; but that wars between us and them, and a want of ministers, 
with many other difficulties, had prevented them from being able 
to do much till of late. He then related to me the shameful and 
horrid story respecting the poor innocent Moravian Indians on the 
Muskingum, who were inhumanly murdered, in the late revolu- 
tionary war, by a band of our American volunteers. And he added, 
that they might expect to experience something similar if they 
received me amongst them. I replied that we were as angry with 
those cruel murders as they could be, but that it was difficult to 
keep wicked men from doing mischief in time of war. I observed, 
however, that as we were at peace with our red brothers, they had 
nothing now to fear, as our good people did not wish to hurt them, 
and our bad people would not be suffered to do it in time of peace. 
To cut the business short, as he was disposed to be tedious, I offered 
him my hand, and told him I must leave him, as I was in a hurry 
to go up the river ; that if I remained there, and he wished to have 
any more talk with me, he must come to see me ; and added that, 
notwithstanding all he had said, if I came there to live, I meant to 
treat him well ; and that I meant to have him for one of my best 
friends. At first he seemed unwilling to receive my hand, but on 
hearing that I meant to be a friend to him, he shook my hand, and 
said if that was the case, he would be a friend to me ; and, as a 
token of this, he invited me to come and eat meat and bear's grease 
with him. 

"This was Wednesday, the 12th of May. I then went up to the 
fort; and, as I thought it doubtful whether they would receive me, 
I brought down all my things. When I returned, I found the most 
of them sober. 

" Friday, the 14th, in the afternoon, I got them assembled at the 
mouth of the river. After a short introduction, I delivered the 
Trustees' address to them ; which I endeavored to make as plain 
and familiar to them as possible. 1 had read it, and exphiined it to 
my interpreter before ; but fearing that that would not be sufficient, 
I took care now to read him but a few lines at a time, and then, to 
express the ideas in a language better adapted to his capacity, and 
more agreeab'e to their modes of speaking. I think the address 
was much too long, i. e. that it contained too many ideas on that 
subject, to them so uninteresting, to be delivered to Indians at once, 
but this made it much longer. Little Otter was too unwell to attend 
that afternoon. T was glad that I had explained the business to him 
before ; and I apprehend that he heard the most of it now, as he lay 
in the flag camp, that was close to the door of the bark house that 
it was delivered in. From what I could discover, the leading ones 
present, were disposed to treat the matter with neglect, if not with 
contempt. The most of the chiefs, though not conjurers, belonged 
to the dance, and I observed that these took a more active part in it 
than others. Little Otter belongs to the dance, likewise, but he 
appeared to take a less active part, and he treated what I had to say 



Indiaufi in tlie Vallmj in 1 802. 1 1 1 



with much more respect. When speeches are delivered to them, it 
is usujil for most of the cliiefs ;ind old men to give their hnoh at 
the end of every p:ira^fr;ipli. or intt-'r}»retati()n. It seems t<» he 
iiiwavs a si^n of attention, and wlien l)reatlied i»ut stronj^, of appro- 
bation. Wlit-n such parts of the address wi-re interpeted to them as 
accorded with their notions of tilings, such as, that there is a God 
who made all things, and that we must not 'iiurder, steal, 
cheat or lie, etc., they gave the sign of attention that 1 have 
mcntidiicd, thougli with a degree of backwardness. To other parts 
of the addre.ss they api)eared to pay very little attention, and almost 
wholly withheld tlie sign of it. We were much disturbed the most 
of the time by the hallooing, screaming and laughing of a multituile 
of their young men, who were playing ball round the house. This 
shows the ditticulty of teaciiing a disorganized people. 

" Before I began the address, I marked out on the ground a map 
of Lake Erie, the States of Xew York and Connecticut — divided the 
latter into towns, Jind described a great house in the middle of each, 
where our people met to worship God, and hear his ministers — 
ilescribed another at Hartford for the General Association ; and, for 
convenience, another at Xew Haven for the Legislature, and a still 
greater one at the city of Washington for Congress. This excited 
their curiosity, and served to give tf em an idea of ConnecLicut. the 
number of our ministers, and the regularity of our towns: and it 
helped them to understand those parts of the address which spake 
of the General Association, the Missionary Society, and the I^egis- 
lature. And it helped me, likewise, to give them a more just idea 
of the importance of the different characters which compose the 
honorable Board of Trustees, as I could point them to the great 
houses to which the different civilians belonged ; and tell them what 
important stations they held in them. I informed them that the 
other six were as great in the ministry. I had taken care before 
this to let them know that I had a written recommendation from 
one of the great chief warriors of the United States. I was the 
more particular with respect to such characters, as they feel the 
most dependent on these, and have the greatest re.-^jH-ct for them. 
At the conclusion of the address, I observed to them, that if 
their patience was not exhausted, I should be glad if they woulti 
hear what I hail to say to them. And as they readily complied, 
and seemed to pay better attention, I delivered them a pretty 
lengthy speech, in which I carefully noticed every thing of import- 
ance that appeared to me to be to the purpose. Supposing that they 
might want to know why we had not sent them a minister beft»re, 
since we were so urgent t»t have them receive one then, I informed 
them we had been i)revented by wars, by a want of ministers, and 
by their living at such a great distance from us, l)ut that we had 
sent ministers to the other Indian nations who lived nearer to its. 

"Having heard of four objections which I supi>osed they stood 
ready to offer, I brougiit them up and answered them. 



112 Moral and Religious Condition of tlie 



" The first objection was, that our religion was not designed for 
Indians. Iii answering this, I availed myself of the declarations 
and promises of Scripture to the contrary, and Ihe command of 
Christ, to preach it to every creature (which I told them I could 
show them), and the success which he had given to the ministry. 

" The second objection that I noticed was, that our religion was 
not good for them. In reply to this, I showed them what effects it 
would have on their children — on their young men, who, it was said,' 
did not mind the chiefs as they used to — and on society in general ; 
how it would fit them for heaven, and give them a sure title to it : 
that it must be good for them if God had designed it for them : 
that other Indian nations, to whom we had sent ministers, tried it, 
and found it to be good, and that they would do wrong to condemn 
it, or reject it without trying it. 

" The third objection was, that by listening to me they would 
expose themselves to the fate of the poor Moravians, who were 
destroyed by our people, in consequence of tlieir embracing our 
religion. 

"In answering this, I observed to them, that they could have 
nothing to fear from having me among them, or from listening to 
me, because that our bad men would not be allowed to hurt them 
now, as our people were at peace with them, and their great fathers 
in Congress were disposed to treat them as their children. 

"■ The fourth objection I thought to be much the most important, 
and the most difficult to answer. It was this : that they could not 
live together so as to receive any instructions on account of their 
fightmg and killing one another when intoxicated. 

"Two had been killed but a few days before at the trader's above ; 
and i found that they seldom got together without killing some ; 
that their villages there were little more than places of residence 
for fall and spring, as they were obliged to be absent in the winter 
on account of hunting, and as they found it necessary to live apart 
in the summer on account of liquor: and that the most of them 
were going to disperse in a few days for j^lanting, when they would 
be from ten to fifteen miles apart, and not more than two or three 
families in a place. To remove this objection, I acknowledged the 
difficulty of their living together while they made such free use of 
spirituous liquor ; and proposed to them to begin and build a new 
village upon this condition, that no one should be allowed to get 
drunk in it; that if they would drink, they should go off and stay 
till they had it over, and that if any would not comply with this 
law, they should be obliged to leave the village. 

" I then showed the advantages of adopting the plan — that they 
would live in peace, as they never quarreled when they were sober ; 
that with my assistance they would be able to give tlieir children an 
education ; for want of which they were going on blindfold in their 
business with white people, who frequently imposed upon them; but 
who would not have it in their power, if they once had eyes of their 



LuUans in the Valhy in 1802. 11 H 



own, to see for tlicmselves; as would be the case if their yoiin*:,' 
(jhiefs and otliers should get an education and learn to 8i)Lak 
KMt,di.sIi ; ami that then tiiey might have ho()k,s printed in their ow n 
hiiiguagf for tliem to read ; that I would show thiin and assist them 
what I CDuld about making carts and [doughs, and about ploughing 
their ground, so that they might employ their horses, which were 
then almost useless to them: and raise a plenty of corn and wheat, 
jiotatoes, s(|uashes and tobacco, hoi\ses and cattle, sheep, hogs and 
))ou]try ; that I would show them and assist them wliat 1 could 
about building a mill, building houses, and making I'uniture for 
their houses; that I would make them wheels and show them 
about making looms; and that my wife would learn their young 
women how to make their own cloth ; that our good people would 
send them on school masters enough to school all their children for 
nothing; that I would try to have them send on a blacksmith, who 
wa~ a good man, and would mend their guns, and do all their work 
for them in the best manner, an(i at a much more reasonable price 
than what they had to give for it then, besides saving them the 
trouble of going a great distance for it. I told them that, as their 
land was excellent, if they would adopt this plan, and their young 
men would assist their Avomen and children, they might enjoy all 
these privileges within a few years, without working hard, and that 
then they would have a comfortable home for tlieir old jieople, and 
for those who were sick, where they could remain through the 
winter whilst the others were gone to their hunting grounds ; and, 
what was infinitely more than all the rest, they might then enjoy 
the religion of God's word, which, if they would rightly attend to 
it, would make them unspeakably happy forever. I then brought 
into view the consequences that would follow if they did not listen 
to his proposal. I told them that game was growing scarce, and 
that, as the white peoi)le were settling round them, it would soon 
be too scarce for them too live by hunting ; that if they did not teach 
their children to cultivate the land and raise their living out of it as 
we did, that they would soon be so poor .and hungry that they 
would not know what to do; that at best they would sell their 
excellent land for little or nothing, and be obliged to leave that 
l)leasant river aiul delightful country and seek a home in some 
ilistant and unknown wilderness. And I observed to them that, 
since it was thus, I hoped they would listen to my advice, and that 
they would not only prevent liquor from being brought into the 
]iroposed village, but that they would entirely desist from drinking 
it: that I would have them more afraid of those who l)rought it 
among them than those who cam< against them with tire-guns. To 
convince them of this, I a>8ured tliem that the country between 
them and the Atlantic, wliich was once thickly inhabitid with 
Indians, had become almost entirely depopulated, princijially l)y 
means of this destroying licpior. And I added that this universal 
drunkenness was very displeasing in the sight of God, and provoked 

9 



114 Moral and Religio'us Condition of the 



him to give them up to die, as it Avere, by their own hands; and 
that if they continued to go on as others had done, they must 
expect ere long to be univerisally swept from the earth in like 
manner. I told them that they might think that they could not 
keep from drinking, but that if they would strive against it, and 
pray to the Great bpirit to help them, that he would enable them to 
keep from it; that if they had any regard to their welfare, the least 
they could think of doing would be to accept of my assistance, and 
follow my advice with respect to the village I had proposed, and not 
suffer any liquor to come into that. I told them that I might have 
lived much hapjjier at home among my dear friends and acquaint- 
ances, where we had everything that was comfortable around us ; 
but knowing how much they needed my assistance, and having a 
great love for them, and being commanded by God, I had forsaken 
all, and had come a great distance to ^pend my days with them, in 
order to make them happy in this world and in the world to come ; 
that I had come by the desire ot God's ministers and good people, 
who tenderly loved them, who had always been their best and only 
true friends, both in time of war and in time of peace, and had 
always been praying to God for them, that they might enjoy those 
great privileges- which they had now been at so much pains and 
expense to help them to ; that I had not come merely of my own 
accord, or by the desire of those good people, but that I was sent 
there by God himself, who commanded them to listen to me ; that 
since it was thus, if they did not receive me, and attend to the good 
things which I was sent to teach them, they would make me very 
sorrowful, exceedingly grieve the hearts of God's ministers and 
people, and, what was inconceivably worse, they would dreadfully 
offend the God who had sent me, and make him very angry with them. 
To conclude my speech to them, I told them that they were not 
to blame for not having this good religion sent to them before, but 
that if they rejected it now it was sent, rejected the goodness of God 
in sending it to them, and all our kind offers to them, which had 
cost us so much tronble and expense, they would certainly be inex- 
cusable, and that I therefore hoped they would give me a favorable 
answer. 

"I was thus urgent with them, because I suspected that the most 
of them were determined not to receive me. They heard me with 
the more patience on account of my having furnished them, in the 
first place, with as much tobacco as they could smoke. As the 
Trustees' address took up so much time, I should have been glad to 
have been much shorter ; but as I thought the case doubtful, I was 
unwilling to omit anything which might be to the purpose. The 
most of the chiefs remained together that night. They assembled 
on the grass the next day, at about twelve o'clock, and sent for me. 
Little Otter was well enough to attend ; and he delivered me the 
following speech, with several of the ideas often repeated : 

" Brother, we listened to you yesterday, and heard all you had to 



Indians in the Valley in 1802. 115 



say to us. Since th;it, we have been tliinking of what yon saiil to u;?, 
and have been talking it over among ourselves, and have made up our 
iiiiuds. Now, brotiier, if you will listen to us, we will give you an 
answer. Bu. it is our way to be very short. Our white brothers, 
when they make speeches, are very lengthy. They read and write 
so much, that they get in a great many little things. But it is not 
so with your red brothers. When we go on any great business, and 
have any great things to say, we say them in a iew words. Brother, 
we understand that you are sent out here by the Great Spirit, and 
by his good people, who live in one of the sixteen tires. Brother, 
we belif ve you have not come alone, or of your own accord, but that 
you are sent out here, as you say, by the Great Spirit, and by some 
of his great black-gowns and great men who make laws. And we 
thank those great Fathers lor being so kind to us. ]irother, we 
like wlmt you have said to us. We know that it is all true, and all 
very good. When you was talking, you kept looking up, and said a 
great deal to us about the Great Spirit. We believe that there is a 
Great Spirit, who has made the world, the sun, the moon, the stars, 
the ground, the water, the trees, and all the men, creatures and 
things that are in the world. Brother, we understand that you have 
come to teach us and our children how to worship the Great Spirit, 
and what we must do to please Him, and be happy in this world and 
in the world to come. We understand that you want to have us 
raise a plenty of corn and wheat, horses and cattle, and all the other 
creatures and things that you raise; and that you want us to live 
like the people, that wear hats. And we believe that you and our 
gn'at fathers that sent you, wish to do us all the good you can ; that 
you want to make us happy, not only here, but in the world to come. 
Brother, we know that you spoke true, when you told us that our 
game was growing scarce, and that it would soon be so that Ave 
could not live by hunting as we used to. We feel very ]wor, and we 
do not know how we are going to live or what we shall do. Now, 
brother, if you and your great black gowns and chiefs want to helj) 
us and make us happy, why don't you stop your people from settling 
so neai us ? Jf you would do this we might have game enough and 
do very well. 

" Brother, we know that it is all true what you say to us about the 
stuff the white people make, which we like so well. We know that 
it makes us foolish, and quarrelsome, and poor, and that it destrovs 
us, and has greatly diminished our number; that we used to be 
much happier before it came among us, and that it would be much 
better for us to b.' entirely without it. We do know how to make 
it ; Indians don't know how to make it, and have nothing to nuike 
it of. If your peo])le did not make it and bring it to us we should 
not have it. And if we did not sec it we should not care anything 
al)out it. But when we get a taste of it we love it so well we do not 
know how to stop drinking. Brother, since it is so, why do you not 
stop your people from bringing it among ua? If you would do this, 



116 Moral and Religious Condition of the. 



then perhaps yon might get us to come and live together in one 
village, so that yon might have an opportunity to instrnct us and 
do us good. But until this liquor is sto])ped we shall quarrel so 
among ourselves, when we get it, that we cannot many of us live 
together in the same village, and you will not be able to do anything 
with us. 

" Brother, what you have said to us is all true, but we would not 
wish to steal the good words or keep them to ourselves. We under- 
stand that you was sent out to travel round and visit the Indians 
in order to find out their minds respecting this business. You have 
seen but a few Indians yet. There are a great many that live away 
back of us. If you was to go and see them all it Avould take you 
two or three years. We think you had better go and talk with them 
all, and see what they think about it ; and if they will agree to have 
black gowns, we will agree to have one too. This is all the red 
brothers have to say to you. 

I suppose they meant to require me to stop all the liquor and get 
the consent of all the Indians to receive ministers before they would 
receive me. This, they doubtless thought, Avould be putting the 
matter off far enough for the present, and that it would be a more 
polite way of answering me than saying no. But I was not disposed 
to take even no for an answer till 1 had a farther trial. Therefore, 
as soon as he had finished his speech, I begged another hearing, 
and delivered them another speech as lengthy as my first, in which 
I was enabled with the greatest ease to remove every difficulty they 
had artfully flung in my way ; to represent things in the clearest 
light, and to press the matter home in such a manner as forced 
them to a fair explanation. But time and ])atience require me to 
be very brief in my account of it. I told them the fault with respect 
to our people's settling too near them was their own, as they sold 
them the land ; that their observations against liquor were very 
encouraging, especially as the same had been made by Little Turtle 
in his speech to the President, which was in behalf of several 
nations, and as the same had been warmly expressed by the head 
chief of the Shawanese ; that it was not in the power of our good 
people who had sent me to put a stop to it, but that they would 
rejoice to hear that they were opposed to having it come among 
them ; and that if they would get the other nations to join them, 
and petition Congress against it, our good people would undoubtedly 
do the same in their behalf, and that there would be but little 
danger but that the united influence of the Avhole would prevail, and 
that Congress would pass a law to prevent liquor from being carried 
into the Indian country. I assured them that nothing should be 
wanting on my part to bring this about. 

" Here I enlarged on the transientness of the pleasures derived 
from it, and the mischievous and destructive consequences attending 
it ; and on the happy consequences that would follow the prohibition 
of it, and urged them to use their utmost endeavors to get as many 



huliam in the Valhn/ in 1802. 1 17 



of tlu" Inditin iiiitions as possible to join them, iiiul send in their 
petition withont delay. I infornu'd them that some of the six nations 
on tlic Alleiriieny, through the iniluence of th<' (^Makers wiio were 
among them, had eome to the noble resolution to dasli the heads 
of every l<e;j of li<|Uor that was olfered for sale to their people, and 
had acted aecordingly; ami that if they slioulil not be successful 
in ])etitioning C'on<,nvss, it would not only be justilial)le in tliem but 
their indispensil)le duty to follow their example. JJut I told them 
that it would do by no means for them to think of doing without u 
minister till this experiinent could be made : that if they thought 
they had not resolution enough in general to adopt and jjursue the 
])lan I had proposed, there would probably be some who would be 
willing to attempt it; that if they would make choice of a place for 
a village, I would begin it if I could not: get more than one or two 
families to begin with me ; that I would be learning their language, 
schooling their children and receiving new members into the society 
as fast as they were di.si)osed to comply with the regulations of it; 
and that I would do what I could for tlie comfort of the aged or the 
sick who might be left there during winter, and exert myself to 
promote the general interests of the whole. I then pointed out the 
ailvantages that would occur to the children, the aged, the sick and 
all wiio would be so wise as to comply with my proposals. And I 
represented the flourishing state the village would probably be in 
before many years if they would suffer me to make this beginning, 
as the most of them must soon be convinced that it was for their 
interest to come and live in it and follow my advice. I told them 
that it was all in vain for them to think that they could prosper and 
do well while they rejeetL-d what Crod had to say to them by his 
ministers: that he had been very angry with the Indians for their 
wickedness (showing them in what it consisted) and had suffered 
them for several hundred miles to melt away before the white ])eople 
like the snow before the sun, and that the only way that they could 
expect to prosper was by listening to what he had to say to them by 
me. I assured them that if they would come and live together and 
build a great honse for God, and meet in it and worship him every 
seventh day as our good people did, and do as (Jod told them to do 
in his book and by his ministers, that he would not suffer them to 
be destroyed as he had the other Indians, but would preserve them 
and prosper them as he had the white jieople. 

" With respect to visiting all the other Indians, I observed to them 
that it would be of no service to get the consent of every tribe, as I 
could serve but one, and as our good people were not prepared to 
send out any more at ])resent; that if I travelled round as they had 
])ropo8ed, I might not find atiy Indians who were so well inclined as 
thev were, or who would Ix- disposed to receive me; that they had a 
sufficient number about them for me to bi-gin with: that if tln-y 
wished to have all the other Indians join them in these things, 
the best way was for them to set the example and show them the 



118 Moral and Religious Condition of the 



happy consequences, which wonld preach lontler to them than any- 
thing I conld say or do. I conclnded what I had to say to them in 
the following words: Fathers, you see that I am very unwilling to 
leave you. 1 have come a great way to visit you, and I find there is 
a prospect of my doing you so much good if I remain here that I do 
not know how to think of going away. You see that it is just 
with me as it is with your children. If you tell them that you 
cannot have them with you, and that they must go off and look 
out for another home, they will tell you that they love you so that 
they cannot leave you. And if you insist on their going away, they 
will hang round you and tell you they cannot, and they will plead 
with you to let them liye with you, and will tell you how much 
good they will do you if you will let them stay. Now, fathers, if 
you will not turn away your children who love you and are willing 
to do anything for you, and who plead with you in this manner to 
keep them, I think I may conclude that you will not turn me away. 
I then left them to prepare an answer. 

"This extract is much shorter than the original, though much 
longer than I intended. But they paid better attention than before, 
and I believe they were very much puzzled for some time to know 
what reply to make to it, as they wished to put me off, if possible, 
Avithout assigning the true cause for it. They went alone, and were 
very secret in their consultations with respect to an answer. After 
deliberating for some time, they sent for me to hear Little Otter's 
reply. The first part of it was mere repetitions of a few things that 
were nothing to the purpose, occasioned, as I suppose, by a reluc- 
tance to come to the main point. The principal ideas contained in 
it, expressed in ftwer words, are as follows: Brother, the most of 
our horses are wild. In oider to catch them, we have to catch one 
of the tame ones first, and then we can draiv the rest in so as to 
secure them too. It seems that you think that the Indians are like 
these horses. You consider us to be the tamest, and imagine that 
if you begin with us that you will be able to draw in the whole. 
But we are all wild, and if you were to try ever so long, you could 
never get us to live together. You can go home, or write home to 
the great fathers who sent you, and let them know how it is. Tell 
them that it is not with their red brothers as it is with the white 
people; that you have tried all that you could to have us live 
together, and that you could not get us to do it, and that if they 
were to try ever so much, they would never be able to do anything 
with us, and that this is the way .of their red brothers. Brother, 
your religion is very good, but it is only good for white people. It 
will not do for Indians. They are quite different sort of people. 
When the Great Spirit made white people, he made them just as 
they be, and put them on another island and gave them farms and 
tools to work with ; and he made horses and horned cattle, and 
sheep and hogs for them, so that they might get their living that 
way. And he learned them to read, and gave them, their religion 



Indians in the Valley in 1802. 119 



in a book. When he made Indians, he made them wild and put 
them in the woods on this ishmd, and gave them the game that tliey 
have, so that thcv might live bv hunting. 80 tliat he did not make 
us to live like the white people. The religion which we used to 
have was very much like yours. But we found that that would not 
do lor us ; and we have lately discovered a much better way. We 
liave now got so that some of us come to life again. There, [strip- 
]iing up his shirt-sleeve,] do you see that black spot on my arm? 
Well, that was put into my arm when I lived before, away in the 
open country. Afterwards I came to life here on this ground where 
you see me. If 3'ou had only proposed to school our children, you 
might have got here and there one to attend to you, but we are 
afraid of your religion. We find that it will not answer for us, and 
therefore we cannot listen to you. You mentioned that you had 
come a great ways to see us. We go a great ways sometimes to see 
folks and get news; but if we do not get any news, or make out 
anything, we do not mind it, or think anything of it. This is all 
that your red brothers have to say to you. 

"The Interpreter told me that what they meant by the new way 
was conjuration. 

•' Little Otter, though said to be clever, is a very shrewd old man, 
and capable of deceiving if he is disposed for it ; but, from what I 
could discover, I am of opinion that he was in favor of having me 
come there at lirst : and am inclined to believe that in delivering 
these speeches he spoke for the conjurers, rather than himself. It 
was evident at least that he was not half so bitterly opposed to me. 

"At the close of this last speech I told them that I had nothing 
more to say. only that I thanked them for treating me so civilly, 
and should always wish well to them : that I was sorry to find them 
so dreadfully deluded, and that they would be forever sorry for it in 
th' world t) come. I then shook hands with the whole and left 
them. The Interpreter apjieared very sorrowful. This was Satur- 
day, the loth, and near night; but as we had everything in readi- 
ness, and the wind favorable, we sat out and went several miles that 
evening. As the wind was fair the next day. and as we were on the 
lake shore where we were liable to be detained with contrary winds 
for many days, and were on expense, and my call to be home was 
very urgent, we sailed about half of the day; and we were so far 
favored as to be enabled, with hard rowing, to reach home before 
noon the Tuesday following. We were blessed with good health, 
though we were ex])osed to wind and weather, and were obliged to 
lie upon the ground almost every night, 

'* In pursuance of mv original plan, to visit the Indians at Arbor- 
crosh, I set sail the 2d of June, with my family, in a convenient 
schooner, for this place. Our accommofbitions were good, our 
r:\ptain all kindness and attention, and were gently wafted to this 
place in seven days. The Indians are vastly more numerous here 
than at Detroit. I see none here but Ottawas and Chipeways. I 



120 Moral and Heligious Condition of the 



believe that tlie Ottawus are much the most numerous just about 
liere. They are accounted by both nations to be the fathers of the 
Chipeways. I find, as I had been informed, that there is a good deal 
ol' dift'erence between the language of these Indians, and those of 
the same nations about Detroit. Some words seem wholly unlike ; 
but the ditference in general appears to be in the pronunciation, 
which is not so drawling, but much more agreeable to the English 
pronunciation. These Indians appear much more sprightly, cleanly, 
industrious and agreeable than those. I have not been able to talk 
with them much yet, for the want of an interpreter. I am disap- 
pointed with respect to the public interpreter, as he is a Frenchman 
and can scarce speak any English. In order to speak with them by 
him, it is necessary to have another to interpret French. I am in 
some hopes that the interpreter at St. Joseph's, whom I mentioned 
in one of my letters last winter, will be here within a few days, as 
there is a vessel expected in from that place. But if I do not 
succeed in getting him, I do not know but I am like to make out 
about as well ; for I have lately seen a young man from the main 
land, v/ho speaks good English and Indian, and who has partly 
agreed to serve me for his board and schooling. Such an interpreter 
would be of great service to me in getting the language. Indeed, it 
would be next to imi)ossible for me to get it without an interpreter, 
unless I could be all the time with the Indians, and even then it 
would be very di fficult. 

"From what I can learn, I fear tliat it is not much better with 
the Indians at Arborcrosh, on account of drinking and fighting, 
than it is with those at the Miami. Hearing that they were mostly 
drunk, and not having an interpreter, I have not visited them yet. 
Or, if it had not been for these difficulties I do not know but I 
should have waited for the assistance of Colonel Hunt, as he is now 
expected every day, to take the command of this post. Knowing 
that he was to be here so soon, 1 rather wished not to see them till 
he came. For it is said there are no Indians who pay so great respect 
to the commanding officer as what tl^ese do; and he told me he 
would use all his influence in my favor. With all the forbidding 
circumstances in view, which I see attending my mission to these 
Indians, as I am to look for miracles, I considered it a matter of the 
utmost importance to avail myself of every circumstance in my 
iiivor, at my first introduction. With all these, I think it is very 
doubtful whether I shall be received by the chiefs. There are two 
circumstances against me which I have not mentioned. One is, that 
these Indians at Arborcrosh have formerly had Roman Catholic 
priests with them, to whom they adhered as strictly as could have 
been expected. 

" Another circumstance not mentioned is, the Indians in general 
have an idea that ministers have a power to send distempers or 
sickness among people, like their conjurers. And if any mortal 
disease breaks out among them while they are with them, they are 



Indians in the Valley m 1802. 121 

supposed to be the authors of it. The Indians to this day tell that 
the priests whom they had with them at Arborcrosh, sent sickness 
among them. So that though they would be more likely to prefer 
the Eoman Catholic than us, yet it does not seem very likely that 
they would wish for either to come among them. But if I cannot 
prevail on the chiefs to receive me, I mean to insist hard on their 
letting me have a number of their sons to educate here on the 
island, whilst I am learning their language, and I shall require them 
to find them food and clothes. 

" My present determination is to remain about here till in one 
way or another I get the language ; and if I can get a good inter- 
preter at a moderate expense, be preaching through the summer 
to all the Indians who will hear me. As they are always absent 
through the winter, I must try in that part of the time to be doing 
something to help support myself, either by a school (which must be 
small) or by some kind of labor." 

The editor of the Magazine appends the following comments 
upon the report of Mr. Bacon : 

" The reader will perceive from Mr. Bacon's account of the 
Indians that one of the greatest obstacles in the way of propagating 
the gospel among them is the influence of the conjurers. These 
conjurers are the same as the powows spoken of in the history 
of the New England Indians, which has been published in several 
numbers of this Magazine. They have sense enough to see that the 
introduction of the Christian religion among the Indians will 
destroy their influence and endanger their craft. They will, there- 
fore, exert themselves to the utmost to prevent Missionaries being- 
received ; and as Mr. Bacon very justly observes, they are, doubtless, 
the instruments of satan in preserving idolatry and opposing the 
true God. But the failure of this first attempt of Mr. B. ought not 
to discourage the friends to the Missionary cause ; it should rather 
stimulate them to more vigorous exertions. The Indians on the 
Miami, from their proximity to the white people, have more free 
access to spiritous liquors, and are much more opposed to everything 
good than the tribes which live more remote. There is still reason 
to hope that to some of the tribes God will give a listening ear, and 
that he will prosper the labors of the Missionaries that may be 
sent among them. It is certainly the duty of Christians, and it is a 
duty the obligation of which they cannot but feel, when they see to 
Avhat a deplorable state of sin and wretchedness the Indians are 
reduced, to make every possible exertion to recover some of them at 
least from that state. They ought always to remember the promise 
that the fullness of the Gentiles shall come in ; that the glorious 
head of the church is infinitely superior to satan and all his instru- 
ments; and, believing these things, they should exert themselves, 
and submissively wait God's time to bless their exertions with 
success," 



CHAPTER II. 

WAR OF 1812-15. 

The war declared against Great Britain by the United States^ 
June 12, 1812, may be regarded as a continuation of the Revolution, 
and as an efiort ou the part ot the latter to compel respect for the 
provisions of the treaty of peace made in 1783. It resulted in the 
consummation of the independence of the States and the enforcement 
of the terms of that treaty. The immediate causes that j^roduced 
the war, were the interference with American trade, enforced by 
the blockade system; the impressment of American seamen; the 
encouragement of the Indians in their barbarities; and the attempt 
to dismember the Union by the mission into the New England 
States of Henry. Through the winter of 1811-12, these causes of 
provocation were discussed in Congress and the public prints, and a 
war with Great Britain openly threatened. Even in December, 
1811, the proposal to invade Canada in the following spring, before 
the ice broke up, was debated in the House of Representatives ; 
and in particular was urged the necessity of such operations at the 
outset of the anticipated contest, as should wrest from the enemy 
the command of the upper lakes, and secure the neutrality or favor 
ot the Indian tribes by the conquest of Upper Canada. While, 
therefore, measures were taken to seize the lower province, other 
steps were arrang'ed for the defense of the Northwest frontier 
against Indian hostility, and which, in the event of a rupture with 
Great Britain, would enable the United States to obtain the com- 
mand of Lake Erie. The following letter which now makes its first 
public appearance in this volume, was addressed by General Solo* 
mon Sibley, a distinguished citizen of Detroit, to Thomas Worth- 
ington, then Senator in Congress from Ohio, and will convey some 
idea of the situation and the apprehensions of the inhabitants on the 
exposed Northwestern frontier during the few months preceding 
the war, and when it became clearly evident that that event was 



Exposed Situation of the Frontier. 123 



inevitable. On the back of this letter is endorsed, " Received 
March 26, lis 12, answered the same day, and put into the hands of 
the Secretary of War on tlie same evening:" 

Detroit, February 26, isi'>. 

Dcnr Sir: — 1 have taken the liberty of addrossintj you on a 
subject highly interesting and imi)ortant to myself in common with 
my friends in this place, and althougii 1 cannot expect thai you will 
embrace my individual private feelings, yet I Hatter mypelf that 
your humanity will draw your thoughts towards this (juarter. I 
am connected with a lady, the daughter of an old friend of yours. 
We are favored with children. Their happiness, their safety, is 
dear to me. Will you not accept my anxiety on a subject so inter- 
esting, for an apology in troubling you at this time";:' 

From a careful perusal of the proceedings of Congress, I am led 
to believe that war with England is probable. Our situation 
exposes us in a peculiar manner to the calamity of war. But, sir, a 
war with England, simply, has no terrors compared with those 
arising from their savage allies. Our melancholy late, should we 
unfortunately fall into the hands of the Indians, need not be 
pointed out. The consequences are too obvious to require descrip- 
tion. 

On reading the President's communication, delivered at the open- 
ing of Congress, slight mention is made of tlie Indians. The little 
said on this head is, however, important, inasmuch as it convinces 
those who read it, that the President is not furnished with full and 
correct information by his agents on so im|)ortant a point. It is 
feared that the agent rests satisfied with tlie transmission of the 
public speeches; that having done this, he flatters himself that he 
has discharged his duty. If this surmise should prove correct, it 
will exhibit one of two things, either that tlie man is a stranger to 
the arts, subtelty and deceit of the Indian character, or afraid to 
express himself in terms contradicting the open i)rofessionR, lest ho 
should give umbrage. 'I'lie Government ouuht to be advised of their 
secret movements and resolves, to euablc them to meet and counlor- 
act them. It has always been noted, that when an Indian is bent on 
mischief, he is more than us\ially open in his professions of friendly 
attachment. He smiles upon and caresses tlie victim devoted to 
ilestruction. A secret cause of hatred and disaffection exists, and 
has been nourished for some years by the savages, against the 
United States. This spirit has lioen encouraged by secret enemies 
of the United States, imtil it has pervaded the whole Indian nations. 
Early tlie ensuing spring, it will burst upon the whole line of 
frontier, involving them equally in ruin. This lact, I am assured 
ot in that way as to force full conviction upon my mind. Our local 
government is satisfied of the impen<ling dangers that hang over us. 
Else why has the Goven:or, Secretary and Jiulges adopted measures 



124 Ex])osed Situation of the Frontier. 



of individual safety — some by leaving the Territory personally; 
others by sending their families out of the country V Are we to 
expect from these movements that the general government will not 
support and protect us by timely and adequate means ? If such is 
the determination of the general government, why not communicate 
it to the citizens, and thereby afford them a chance of providing for 
individual safety, and that of their families ? Far be it from me, 
the thought that our government will adopt a course so derogatory 
of the national dignity. I am confident the country will be defended 
with promptitude and energy, and that nothing is wanted but correct 
information to draw the attention of government to this or any 
other point of the Union where threatened with danger. 

I have stated it is my opinion that this country will be attacked 
early in the spring, and will submit some of the grounds to your 
consideration on which I have drawn the conclusion. It is unneces- 
sary for your information, for me to remark that the first settlers of 
this country were Frenchmen, and that their descendants form a 
large proportion of our present population. This class of citizens, 
in some instances, are allied to the savages by intermarriage, thereby 
cementing a union previously formed by liabits of trade and familiar 
intercourse. To these may be added the fact that the Canadian is 
familiarly acquainted with the several Indian languages. These 
causes have at all times secured to the Canadians the friendship and 
confidence of their Indian neighbors. To the^ enlightened French 
merchant, trader and farmer I have therefore applied for informa- 
tion ; and to them am I indebted for the knoAvledge upon which I 
have formed the opinion of their hostile views, already expressed, 
and shall be happy should it prove incorrect. Several Canadian 
gentlemen, entitled to credit, and well disposed towards our gov- 
ernment, have stated to me that they have been repeatedly called 
upon lately, by Indians Avhom they believed their friends, who have 
requested them not to mingle or identify themselves with the 
Americans, or '-Long Knives;'' that early in the spring, (at the 
first swelling of the buds) the Indians would strike upon ]3etroit 
and the whole frontier. That if they were found at home, attend- 
ing to their private concerns, they would be respected and their 
property remain safe ; otherwise, that they would be involved in the 
fate of their neighbors, the Americans. That their determination 
was to clear the country north and west of the Ohio of every Ameri- 
can, and in future establish that river for a bol^ndary. That the 
scheme had been long in agitation, and now was endorsed generally 
by the Indians. Tliut such natives, or tribes, as refused to join the 
confederacy, would also be cut off. These communications from the 
Indians to theii" friends, have made deep impressions upon the well 
disposed Canadians. How the majority will act, should an attack 
be made, is doubtful. It would be unwise for the government to cal- 
culate much on their assistance. It is further stated by those gentle- 
men that the impending storm has no immediate connection with ouv 



Jitqyosed Situation, of the FroiUier. 125 



understandings with Great Britain ; that the attack will be made 
by the SHvaLces, whatever may be the result of our pendinjjj netcotia- 
tions witli Miii^land. They state further, that tin- Indians arc amply 
supplied with arms, ammunition, blankets, tfee., to cnabli' them to 
prosecute war with vii^or. Tlie mode of attack is not so fully com- 
miuiicatcd. l-'rom some hints which have fallen, it is believed a 
force will have in charge to waylay the roads Icadinif to the Ohio, 
with a view of interrupting and cuttinij olV re-iidbrccments and sup- 
plies. Should this ]»lan be adopted and adhered to for a few months, 
this post would be in great danger. We have no competent force 
in this quarter to force a communication. 

Having made the above remarks on thi.s subject, considered 
simply in relation to the Indians, I wish to draw your attention to 
this question in the event a war with England should take place. 
The ])resent military force stationed at Amherstburg. unaided by 
Indian auxiliaries, is not such as to excite apprehensions for the 
safety of Detroit. But, sir, it has heretofore been the policy of 
Great Britain, in her wars in America, to call ui)on the savages for 
aid. And when the immense suras of mojiey that government 
expends annually to retain them in her interest is considered, no 
reasonable doubts can be entertained of her future policv in case of 
war with the I'nited States. The fact is notorious, and well attested 
here by every person who has lately visited Amherstburg, that 
every possible exertion is making to render that fortress secure and 
tenable;, and also to retain command of the upper lakes. The gov- 
ernment has already a large armed vessel upon Lake Erie, equipjied 
and fully manned, superior to any naval force the United States can 
bring against it. Not content with this force, they are actually 
emj)loyed in building a second vessel of equal or superior force, 
which will be completed and manned at the first opening of naviga- 
tion. JJy means of this force, dll communication by water will be 
cut olf between our ports. While one is stationed upon Lake Erie, 
the other will be ordered to Lake Huron to aiil in the re<luction of 
Michilimackinac ami CMiicago. In addition to the naval force, it is 
rej)orte<l and believed by many that the British will seize upon and 
erect works at the mouth of the Detroit Kiver. at or near what is 
called Big Creek, on the United States territory — a place strong by 
nature, and well silu:ited to aid the navy in cutting off all supplies 
•lesigned either by land i>r water for this garrison. It is believed 
that the point last mentioned will be occupied previous to a decla- 
ration of war, and the moment it is thought to be unavoidable. 
Several officers of distinction have lately visited Amherstburg. In 
their number is int^luded an engineer and barrack-master: also a 
Col. St. George. They report that the British are greatly enlarging 
their works, l)uilding extensive barracks, ami apparently under an 
expectation of a much larger force than has ever been stationed in 
the upper country. From the various steps and movements of that 
government, it is to me evident that thev will make a firm and 



126 Exposed Situation of the Frontier. 

formidable stand in this npper country, contrary from what appears 
to be a prevailing sentiment in Congress. Great calculations are 
made from the aid which they expect to derive from the Indians. 
Should Detroit fall, it is evident it would cost the United States 
much blood and treasure to regain what they will have lost. By it an 
extensive wilderness will be thrown between the upper province 
and the physical force of the Western States. Our whole line of 
frontier will be ravaged and kept in a state of alarm. These are 
consequences calculated upon by the British government, and, in 
my opinion, on correct principles. It is, however, in the power of 
our government to defeat their views, by marching six or eight 
hundred militia or volunteers from the State of Ohio or Kentucky 
before the lakes break up. If troops are not a& Detroit before May 
or June, the opportunity and season of saving us will be lost. We 
shall be sacrificed with the interest of the public. 

I hope, sir, you will receive the remarks contained in this letter 
as intended by the writer. It has been hastily written, and is full 
of defects. The object I had in view was frankly to disclose my 
opinion of our dangerous situation. I sincerely wish you to have 
an interview with the Secretary of War. Impress him with the 
necessity of succor for this place. A few days delay may lose the 
place to the United States. Should you discover any pai*t of my 
letter that can give umbrage, suppress it. If it contains any re- 
marks that you think can be of service, you are at liberty to make 
use of them. Will you inform me if we may expect assistance 
shortly ? I am, dear sir, 

Your most obedient servant, Sol. Sibley. 

Grovernor Hull had communicated eimilar warnings to the War 
Department, and had recommended the adoption of a like policy ; 
and the same measures were also urged by General Armstrong, in 
a private letter of January 2d, 1812 ; yet the government proposed 
to use no other than military means, and hoped, by the presence of 
two thousand soldiers, to effect the capture or destruction of the 
British fleet. IsTay, so blind was the War Department, that it 
refused to increase the number of troops to three thousand, although 
informed by Governor Hull that that was the least number from 
which success could be hoped. When, therefore, Governor, now 
General Hull, (to whom, in consideration of his revolutionary 
services, and his supposed knowledge of the country and the natives, 
the command of the army destined for the conquest of the Canadas 
had been confided,) commenced his march from Dayton on the 1st 
of June, it was with means which he himself regarded as utterly 
inadequate to the object aimed at — a fact which, in some degree, 
mitigates his vascillating, nerveless conduct. Regarding the appoint- 



General HulV 8 Movements. 127 

inent of General Hull, John Jnlinston, who, in tlie curly ]iart of 
the year 181*2, was transferred from tlie agency at Fort Wayne to a 
new agency at Piqua, liavinir in cliarge all the Indians of Ohio, with 
the Delawares, of Indiana, and who was in Washington at the 
time Congress was discussing the ([uestion of a declaration of war, 
communicated in 184G to Cist's MisceUany the fitllowing: ''Whilst 
at Washington, I learned tliat Hull was an apiilicant for the 
command of the Northwestern Army. (lovernor Worthington was 
then in the Senate. I took the liberty of warning him against the 
appointment. The people of the country where he was to operate 
had no confidence in him ; the Indians despised him ; he was too 
old, broken down in body and mind, to conduct the multifarious 
operations of such a command. The nomination was made, object- 
ed to, referred to a committee, reported on favorably, and confirmed. 
On the very same day he passed the Senate, the poor, weak, vain 
t)ld man was seen in full dress uniform, parading the streets of 
Washington, making calls.'' 

Through the whole month of June, General Hull and his troops 
toiled toward the Maumee country, busy with their roads, bridges 
and block-houses. On the !'24th, advices from the Secretary of War, 
dated on the 18th, came to hand, but not a word contained in them 
made it probable that the long-expected war would be immediately 
declared, although Colonel McArthur, at the same time,received word 
from Chillicothe, warning him, on the authority of Thomas Worth- 
ington, that before the letter reached him, the declaration would 
iiave been made public. This information McArthur laid before 
General Hull; and when, upon reaching the ^laumee. that com- 
mander proposed to place his baggage, stores, and sick on board a 
vessel, and send them by water to Detroit, the backwoodsman 
warned him of the danger, and refused to trust his own j)roperty 
on board. Hull, however, treated the report of war as the old story 
which had been current through all the spring, aiid refused to 
l)eHeve it possible that the government would not give him infor- 
mation at the earliest moment that the measure was resolved on. 
Ill' accordingly, on the 1st of July, eml)arked his disabled men, and 
most of his goods on board the Cuyahoga jiackel, sulfering his aid- 
de-camp in his carelessness to send by her even his instructions and 
army roll, and then proceeded upon his wav. 

On the 1st of June, Mr. Madison recommended war to the Senate; 
on the 3d of June, Mr. Calhouu reported in favor of it, ami in au 



128 General HulVs Incapacity. 

able manifesto set forth the reasons ; and on the 19th, prochimation 
of the contest was made. Upon tlie day preceding, Congress having 
passed the needful appropriation bill, the Secretary wrote to General 
Hull one letter, saying nothing of the matter, and sent it by a 
special messenger, — and a second containing the vital news, which 
he confided to a half-organized post as far as Cleveland, and thence 
literally to accident. And, as if to complete the circle of folly, the 
misled General, through neglect, suffered his official papers, which 
he owned ought never to have passed out of his possession, to j)ass 
into that of the foe, and thus informed them of his purposes and 
strength. 

But that strength, compared with their own, was such that it 
proved adequate to deter the British from making any attempt to 
l^revent the march of the Americans to Detroit, or to interfere with 
their passage across the river to Sandwich, where they established 
themselves on the 12th of July, preparatory to attacking Maiden 
itself, and commanding the conquest and conversion of Upper 
Canada. And here, at once, the incapacity of Hull manifested 
itself. By his own confession, he took every step under the influ- 
ence of two sets of fears : He dared not, on the one hand, act boldly, 
for fear that his incompetent force would all be destroyed ; while 
on the other hand, he dared not refuse to act, for fear his militia, 
already uneasy, would utterly desert him. Thus embarrassed, he 
proclaimed freedom, and the need of submission to the Canadians; 
held out inducements for the British militia to desert, and to the 
Indians to keep quiet, and sat still at Sandwich, striving to pacify 
his blood-thirsty backwoodsmen, who itched to be at Maiden. To 
amuse his own army, and keep them from trying dangerous experi- 
ments, he found cannon needful to the assault of the British posts, 
and spent three weeks making carriages for five guns. While these 
were under way, Colonel Cass and Colonel Miller, by an attack upon 
advanced parties of the enemy, demonstrated the willingness and 
power of their men to push their conquests, if the chance were 
given, but Hull refused the opportunity ; and when, at length, the 
cannon were prepared, the ammunition placed in wagons, and the 
moment for assault agreed on, the General, upon hearing that a 
proposed attack on the Niagara frontier had not been made, and 
that troops from that quarter were moving westward, suddenly 
abandoned the enteiqsrise, and, with most of the army, on the 7th 
of August, returned to Detroit, having effected nothing except the 



Complaint of A nn;/ ( nntrartor>(. ^ 129 

ilestruction of all confidence in himself on the part of the whole 
force under his control, otlieers and privates. 

Meantime, upon the '29th of July, Colonel Proctor had reached 
Maiden, and perceiving instantly the power which the position of 
that post gave him over the supplies of the army of the United 
States, he commenced a series of operations, the object of which was 
to cut off the communications of Hull from Ohio, and thus not 
merely neutralize all active operations on his part, but starve him 
into surrender, or force him to detail his whole army, in order to 
keep open his way to the only point from which supplies could 
naeh him. The following letters from army contractors, now first 
published in these pages, will show the straits to which IIulIV: eom- 
mand had been so easily driven : 

Detroit, July -.IHih, 181::i. 

Sir: — I have a contract witli tiie Government of the United 
States for the supply (»f ail rations which may be required by the 
army at Chicago, Michillinuikinac, Fort Wayne and this jiJacv. and 
also all other places in the State of Ohio and Indiana Territorv, 
north of the forty-first degree of latitude, and also in the Territory 
of Michigan. 'J'his contract was entered into by me in time and 
with a view to a state of peace, and with an expectation that the 
supplies might be furnished as they have heretofore been, and trans- 
ported in vessels over the lakes. 

Previous to the declaration of war, I had made large purchases 
of provisions along the shores of Lake Erie, within the States of 
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and had just commenced removing them 
to this place when war was declared. The navigation of that lake 
is now shut against us by the enemy, and of course it is impossible 
for me to furnish the army by water. There then n-niains no other 
means than to forward supplies from the State of Ohio through the 
wilderness for one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles, where 
the roads are so bad that it is almost impossilde for wagons to travel, 
and where, no doubt, th° cheapest mode will be to transport bv i)ack- 
ing on liorses. In addition to these embarrassments, is that" of the 
hostile disposition of the Indians, who are daily committing depre- 
dations on travelers on their route, and will, no doubt, do all in 
their power to prevent supplies from passing. 

Under these circumstances you will gee at once. Sir, that the 
efforts of an individual can produce but little effect, and that nothing 
short of the energies of government can furnish necessary siipplii-s. 

Some time ago I wrote to the Secretary of War on this sul)ject, and 
reipiested that he would devise means to overcome these ditliculties, 
but have not received his answer. 

Understtiuding that General Hull was about to address vou on the 

10 



130 DifficAilties in Transporting Sttpplies. 



subject of an additfonal force to bis army, and snpplies for tbat and 
the force already here, I am induced to make tbis communication. 

There is one circumstance relating to tbese supplies which I will 
mention ; that is that the army which came on with General Hull, 
very soon after their arrival, ]iassed into Canada witliout the limits 
of my contract; but notwithstantlinii- have been sup}>lied by me; 
since, as a matter of necessity, should an additional force come on, 
I conclude they would also pass into Canada, and of course be 
])laced out of the reach of any government contract for supplies. 

I leave to-morrow to proceed eastward along the southern shore 
ol' Lake Erie, with a view of sending on some supplies in boats from 
New Connecticut; but the success of this attempt must be doubtful, 
and not to be relied on. I should wish that your Excellency might 
adopt such measures to furnish supplies as your better judgment 
may direct, without considering me as the contractor. 
I am, sir, with great respect. 

Your obedient servant, 

AUC4USTUS Porter. 
To His Excellency Governor Meigs. 



Urbana, 20th Aug., 1812. 
His Excellency^ R. J. Meigs, Governor of Ohio : 

Sir: On the 10th of July I was appointed by the Hon. Brig. 
Gen. Wm. Hull, an agent to supply the Northwestern army with 
provisions, in the Michigan Territory and State of Ohio north oi the 
4lst degree of N. Lat., under the contract of Augustus I^orter, Esq., 
the said contractor having failed to furnish agreeable to his contract. 
Gen. Hull having only advanced me a sufficiency ol funds to pur- 
chase two hundred thousand rations, and to furnish them at the 
Detroit post. The additional force now going on from this State 
and Kentucky, makes it necessary that a large quantity should be 
sent on. Communication being cut oft" with the amiy precludes the 
possibility of procuring lunds from General Hull. 1 therefore have 
to request your excellency to advance me ten thousand dollars to 
enable me to furnish the army now^ going on. 

With respect, I am your obedient servant, JoH^sr H. Piatt. 

A proper force on Lake Erie, or the capture of Maiden, would 
have prevented these annoying and fatal embarrassments, but the 
imbecility of the government and that of the General combined to 
favor the plans ol Proctor. Having, by his measures, stopped the 
stores on their way to Detroit, at the river Raisin, he next deleated 
the insufficient band of two hundred men under Van Home, sent by 
Hull to escort them ; and so far withstood that of live hundred 
under Miller, as to cause Hull to recall the remnant of that victo- 



levmsi of IIuIVr SarremUr. 1 :^. 1 

rioiis ami j^allnnt band, though it had oomjdctely routed the British 
and Imiians. By thoHe means Proctor amused the Americans until 
General Brock reached Mahlen, which he did upon the lotli of 
Auj^ust. and prepared to attempt the conquest of Detroit itself. 
And here aijcain occurred a most singular want ot skill on the part of 
the Americans. In order to prevent the forces in Upper Canada 
from being combined aixainst Mull, General Dearborn had been 
ordered to make a diverwion in his favor at Niagara and Kingston, 
but in place of doing this, he made an armistice with the British 
commanders, which enabled them to turn their attention entirely to 
the more distant West, and left Hull to shift for himself On the 
14th of August, therefore, while a third party, under McArthur, 
was dispatched by Hull to open his communications with tlie river 
Raisin, though by a new and impracticable road, General Brock 
appeared at Sandwich and began to erect batteries to protect his 
further operations. These l)atteries Hull would not suffer any to 
molest, saying that if the enemy would not fire on him he would 
not on them ; and though when summoned to surrender on the loth, 
he absolutely refused, yet upon the ItUh, without a blow struck, 
the Governor and General crowned his course of indecision and 
unmanly tear by surrendering the town of Detroit and territory of 
Michigan, together with fourteen hundred brave men, longing for 
battle, to three hundred English soldiers, four hundred Canadian 
militia disguised in red coats, and a band of Indian allies. The 
following were the terms of General Hull's capitulation: 

Camp at Detroit, 16th August, 1812. 

Capitulation for the surrender of Fort Detroit, entered into bettceen 
Major General Broc/c, commandiyig Hin Britanic Majcsti^'s 
Forces, on the one part, and Brigadier General Hull^ command- 
ing the Northwextern Army of the Uriited States, on the other 
part. 

Ist. Fort Detroit, with all the troops, regulars as well as militia, 
will be iinnu'diiitely surrendered to the British fcjrces, under the 
command of Major (-reneral Bnjck, and will be considered prisoners 
of war, with the e.xception of such of the militia of the Michigan 
Territory who have not joined the army. 

2d. All public stores, arms, and all public documents, including 
everything i-lse of a public nature, will be immediately given up. 

3d. Private persons and property of every description will be 
respected. 



132 ' Hull Convicted of Coioar dice. 

4th. His excellency, Brigadier General Hnll, having expressed a 
desire that a detachment from the State of Ohio, on its way to join 
his army, as well as one sent from Fort Detroit, nnder the command 
of Colonel McArthur, shall he inclnded in the above capitulation, — 
it is accordingly agreed to. It is, however, to be nnderstood that 
snch part of the Ohio militia as have not joined the army, will be 
permitted to return to their homes on condition that they will not 
serve during the war. Their arms, however, will be delivered up, if 
belonging to the public. 

5th. The Governor will march out at the hour of twelve o'clock, 
this day, and the British forces will take immediate possession of 
the fort. 
[Signed,] J. McDonnell, 

Lt. Col. Militia, P. A. D. C; 
J. B. Glegg, 

Major A. D. C; 
James Miller, 

Lt. Col. 5th U. S. Infantry ; 
E. Brush, 

Col. \8t Regt. Mich. Militia. 
Approved : 

William Hull, 

Brig. Oen. ComiTg the N. W. Army. 
Approved : 

Isaac Brock, 

Major General. 

For this conduct he was accused of treason and cowardice, and 
found guilty of the latter. Nor can we doubt the justice of the 
sentence. However brave he may have been personally, he was, as 
a commander, a coward; and, moreover, he was influenced, confes- 
sedly, by his fears as a father, lest his daughter and her children 
should fall into the hands of the Indians. His faculties had 
become paralyzed by the intemperate use of alcoholic stimulants, 
which produced a cowardly fear — fear that he should fail, fear that 
his troops, whose confidence and respect he could not fail to discover 
he had lost, would prove untrue to him ; fear that the savages would 
spare no one, if opposed with vigor; fear of some undefined and 
horrid evil impending. His conduct throughout was such as might 
have been reasonably expected from a man who had reached prema- 
ture dotage and physical decay by the excessive use of spirituous 
liquors. 

But the fall of Detroit, though the leading calamity of this unfor- 
tunate summer, was not the only one. The misfortune did not 
come singly. Word had been sent through the kindness of some 



Fori Wrff/ne Escapes th^ General Misfortinip. 133 



friend under ;i frank from the American Secretary of tiie Treasury, 
infonninjj: tlic British commander at St. Joseph, a post about forty 
miles from >[aekinac, of the declaration of war; while Tjieutcnant 
Hanks, commaiulin^ the American fortress itself, received no 
notice from any source. The consequence was, an attack upon the 
key of the Northwestern lakes, on the 17th of July, by a force of 
Hritish, Canadians, and savages, numbering in all one thousand and 
twenty-one. The garrison, amounting to but fifty-seven effective 
men, felt tinable to withstand so formidable a body, and to avoid the 
constantly threatened Indian massacre, surrendered as prisoners of 
war, and were dismissed on parole. 

Less fortunate in its fate was the garrison of Fort Dearborn at 
Chicago. General Hull sent word to the commander at the fortress 
(Captain Heald) of the loss of Mackinac, and directed him to 
distribute his stores among the Indians, and retire to Fort Wayne. 
Heald, as heretofore explained, proceeded to do this, but it was soon 
evident that the neighboring savages were not to be trusted, and he 
in consequence determined not to give them, what they most of all 
wanted, the spirits and the powder in the fortress. This they 
learned, and this it was, as. Blackhawk asserted, which led to the 
catastrophe. On the loth of August, all being ready, the troops left 
the fort, but before they had proceeded more than a mile and a half, 
they were attacked by the Indians, and two-thirds of them (from 
fifty to sixty) massacred at once. 

Thus, by the middle of August, the whole Northwest, with the 
exception of Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison, was again in the hands 
of the British and Indians. Early in September, these two posts 
were also attacked, and the latter, had it not been defended with the 
greatest vigor, would have been taken. Its defence was entrusted to 
Captain Z. Taylor, who subsecpiently won distinguished honors in 
the war with Mexico, and in 1848 was elected President of the 
United States. 

Captain Rhoa, who, subsequent to Wayne's campaign, was com- 
mandant of the post below Swan creek, but who, during the 
succeeding war, held the garrison &t Fort Wayne, addressed a letter 
to Governor Meigs, of which the following is a copy. He had not 
then be<:»n advised of the surrender of Hull's army, which had occur- 
red four days prior to the date of his lettc-r: 



134 General Cass on the Situation. 



FoET Watne, August 20th, 1812. 

Honored Sir: — I am requested by Chingwiuthah, or the Little 
Turtle's nephew, the present chief of the Miamies, who has just 
returned with part of the escort, lately under the command of 
Captain Wells, to assist in the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, to 
inform you that as soon as he can collect his men, women and 
children together, they will repair to the great council at Piqua with 
all possible dispatch. Both they and the Pottawottamies of this 
country would have been at the council before this period, had not 
the necessity of assisting Captain Heald intervened. I have no 
doubt of the attachment of this young chief to the American 
interest. 

Any information you can give us of the success of General Hull 
and his army will afford us much satisfaction. 

I have the honor to be, with respect, sir. 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Rhea, Oapt. Coracfg. 
To his Excellency Governor Meigs. 



In reference to the trial of General Hull, General Jessup addressed 
the following letter to Governor Ethan Allen Brown : 

Albany, N, Y., 6th February, 1814. 

Dear Sir : I arrived in this city on the 3rd inst., after a most 
tiresome and disagreeable journey. The trial of General Hull pro- 
gresses slowly. The court has been a month in session, and not 
more than eight or ten witnesses are examined. The General's 
guilt, however, is so apparent from the testimony already adduced, 
that even his own counsel, 1 understand, have abandoned the idea 
of disproving the fact contained in the charges. They will attempt 
to show, it is said, that his conduct was the consequence, not of 
cowardice or treason, but of extreme fatigue and anxiety of mind ! 
When such is the defence, how hopeless must be the cause. 

Sincerely yours, Th. J. Jessup. 

Hon. E. A. Brown. 

The following letters from distinguished soui-ces illustrate im- 
portant movements occurring at the time, and may here be properly 
introduced, as none of them have hitherto been made public : 

In Camp, Urbana, June 8, 1812. 

Dear Sir : We reached this place yesterday. On arriving at 
Staunton, and making inquiry respecting the route down the Au- 
glaize, it was found that at this season of the year that stream was 
useless for any purpose of navigation, and that a road along it would 



Thf Ennm/ Ciitn-ffCmmniivicdtion. ] 85 



lio (liffi(MiI( .'irnl oircnitnns. It w:is <-.)iiclu<li'<l t<> c.lmnt^e our direction, 
to |iroc»'e<l to this |»l:i('(', :itiil iVom here on the l»est <;ronntl t<t iho 
foot ot" the r:i|)i<ls. In this ileterinination I eoncurrcfl. A road 
from here to the rapitls wouhl open to Detroit the eentre of tlie 
State ; and in tlio event of a war witli England our supplies must he 
drawn from here. It is indisputably the shortest and prohahly the 
i)est route. 

Boyd's regiment joins us to-morrow. Things go on well in camp. 
This morning four companie.s mareheil for Manary's Cloek-IIouse to 
open the road. 

We liave liad a cotmcil with the Indians. They have agreed to 
|>erinit us to open the road, ami to establish along it a line of bloek- 
houses. You well know the situation of the men who compose 
this det:i(!hment. They were generally in lospectable standing and 
of good prospects. They have maiU' great sacrifices They did not 
come for money, because all the money they can receive will be but 
a poor compensation. 

[And here follows an appeal urging the necessity of a more 
l>rompt i)ayment of the troops, and the letter concludes : ] 

Rely upon it. it must be done And .still further rely, that you 
are the man who must see it done. Your standing, influence and 
the confidence your fellow-citizens place in you, all justify them in 
looking to you. I know they will not be disappointed. 

Sincerely ever yours, Lkw. Cass. 



River R.4.isin', August 11, 1812. 

Sir : I improve the first opportunity by the l)earer. Major Taylor, 
tf) inform you that I arrived at the rapids of the .Miami on the morn- 
ing of the 9th inst . but have l)een delayed on the roa<l for want of 
grain for the horses. I came here yesterd.ay accorapanietl by twenty- 
one rangers from .Manary's Block-House, wlio volunteered as an 
escort for the purpose mentioned in your letter addressed to Captain 
Manary. 

I regret that I cannot send you an accurate detail tV(jm head- 
<|U:irters. but this is now impossible. The comtiinnication with the 
army is entirely obstructed by the enemy. On Wednesday last the 
mail was escorted by between twolumdre<l and three hundred men. 
A sevce • ngagement ensued on the way. Our troops retreated, 
formed, and fought valiantly for a lime, until overpowered by the 
enemy, which consisti'd of l)oth Indians and British. Tirrnhi-tirr of 
th(! escort went from this place, and liut .<ci'ni of them liave returned, 
and some of them are wounded. F'rom the V)est information we 
have, about one-half of the escort were killed and missing. It seems 
to have been a dreadful h.avoc. The road was strewed with the 
mangled bodies of the dead ! A prisoner escaped from Maiden, and 



136 Preparation for the 



came in here yesterday, who states on oath that he saw the mail 
opened in the Bintish garrison, which was supposed to have been 
taken in the battle of Wednesday last, and that there was much 
sport in Maiden in consequence of arresting the public papers, which 
were examined by the enemy. 

I have also to state that a severe engagement took place day 
before yesterday three or four miles the other side of Brownstown, 
very near the place of the battle ground of Wednesday, and it is 
confirmed by two Frenchmen who fled from a boat (being there 
prisoners,) that our troops were victorious, and the enemy experi- 
enced a total defeat. Such are the reports here ; and such the general 
opinion relative to the battles of Wednesday and Sunday. But, sir, we 
are all in doubt and anxiety about the details of the two last engage- 
ments. As many as five different expresses have been sent from this 
place to General Hull to get tidings from the army, and not one has 
been heard of or returned. The expresses sent were confidential men 
and persons well acquainted with the woods. An express man is 
here now waiting from Buffalo, in the State of New York, who 
says the British have started three vessels to reinforce Maiden ; and 
one of the Frenchmen from Maiden states that the three vessels 
have arrived at Maiden with reinforcements. A rejoicing ensued 
at the fort, and the guns were heard at this place. 

Captain Brush's company arrived here on the 9th, all in good 
health and good spirits. There are now about one hundred and 
sixty troops here (exclusive of the militia, which cannot be relied 
on.) Great suspicion is attached to the Frenchmen living in and 
about this place. The people are flocking into the stockade for 
protection, and the town and country around are alarmed. 

I cannot inform you, sir, what course will be pursued here. If 
there is even a probable chance of seeing Detroit without incurring 
the reputation of rashness, I shall proceed to headquarters. If not, 
I shall wait with the rest of the troops till I can hear from General 
Hull. 

I have but little time to write. The bearer now waits. I must, 
however, be permitted to suggest that I think our army is in a pre- 
carious situation. There are many sick or unable to do duty- 
several have been killed or wounded ; and it is possible the whole 
corps may dissolve for reasons known to your excellency, unless 
en.couraged by immediate reinforcement. Would not the volunteers 
from Gallia and Athens counties march without delay to this place, 
Avith orders to report themselves to the commandant here ? ' 

With deference I submit to your excellency this hasty summary, 
and meanwhile am, sir, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, Jessup N. Codch. 

His Excellency, Return J. Meigs. 

Before the surrender of Hull took place, extensive preparations 
had been made in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania, to 



Defence of the Maumee Valley. 1 87 

brine: into service a large and efficient army. Three points needed 
defonoe. Fort Wayne and llie Maumee Valley, and the Wabash and 
Illinois country. The troops destined ior the Maumee were to be 
under the command of General Winchester, a Revolutionary officer 
resident in Tennessee, and but little known to the frontier men. 

Reaching Cincinnati, he addressed Governor Meigs the following 
letter : 

Cincinnati, 9th September, 1812. 

Sir : — I am thus far on my way to assume the command of the 
armv on your Northwestern frontier. I shall leave this place 
to-morrow for Piqua. where I shall be extremely glad to see you, 
in order to consult with you relative to the best possible means of 
])rotecting the exposed frontier of the State of Ohio, without losing 
sight, at the same time, of Upper Canada. I am authorized by the 
Secretarv of War to call on your excellency for reinforcements of 
militia. ' On this subject, also, a personal interview is desirable. 

Should it, however, be inconvenient to you, sir, to meet me at 
I'iqua, or at some other place on my route, you will be good enough 
to communicate to me in writing your ideas on the subject of the 
protection of your frontier inhabitants, as well as the extent of mili- 
tia you can furuish upon my requisition. 

Thave the honor to be, with high consideration, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Winchester, 

Brigadier General U. S. Army. 
To His Excellency K. J. Meigs, Govenior of the State of Ohio. 



And from his head^iuarters at Fort Wayne the following: 

Headquarters, Fort AVayne, 22d September, 1812. 

Sir: — I had the honor last night of receiving your excellency's 
dispatch of the 16th instant, coveiing a communication from (Jeneral 
Wadsworth, for which I beg you will accept my sincere thanks. 
With you, I rejoice at the prospect of regaining lost territory, and at 
the determination of the ['resident on a vigorous course of measures ; 
and I still hope to winter in Detroit or its vicinity the ensuing 
season. 

To enable me, in part, to effect this purpose, I avail myself of the 
authority given me by the Secretary of War, to call upon your 
excellency for such reinforcements as 1 may dfcm necessary. You 
will please to furnish two regiments of iniantry to join me at the 
Rapids of the Miami of the lake, about the loth" or lAth of October 



138 General Winchester at Defiance. 



next, well clothed for a fall campai£;n. Anns and ammunition can 
be drawn from Newport, Kentucky. It is extremely desirous to mc 
that no time may be lost in supplying this re(|uisition. 'J'he cold 
season is fast api)roaching, and the stain on the American character 
at Detroit not yet wiped away. 

If you conld furnish one other regiment to rendezvous at Piqua, 
and proceed to open and improve the road, by causeways, etc., to 
Defiance, it would greatly facilitate the transiiortation of supplies to 
this army, which is imperatively )'e(iuisite to its welfare. This latter 
regiment might then retui'n, or proceed on after the army, as 
circumstances should dictate. 

I have the honor to be, with high respect, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Winchester, 

Brig. Gen. U. IS. Army. 
To His Excellency Keturn J. Meigs, Governor of the State of 9hio. 



And on the 15th of October, 1812, not having been informed of 
the appointment of General Harrison, on the previ'^us month, to 
the chief command of the Northwestern army. General Winchester 
a-^ldressed Governor Meigs the following letter: 

Camp Defiance, Mouth of the Auglaize, \ 
15th October, 1812. \ 

Sir : — Captain Wood, commanding a small party of spies, came 
into this camp yesierday, and reports that he was detached from 
Urbana to visit the rapids, etc. ; that he fell in with other spies 
who had just returned from that place, and had obtained all the in- 
formation that he possibly could. I therefore have directed him to 
return and report, deeming it unnecessary that he should proceed, as 
the information required had been obtained, and being desiriouS; too, 
to communicate to your excellency that this army could immediately 
march and take possession of the rapids, if supplies of provisions, 
<fcc., could certainly I'each us in a few days after our arrival. Many 
days provisions could not be carried with us, because it is not hei-e. 
Neither have we the means of transportation, and it is important 
that the coi'n at that place should be saved if it could be done. 

At this place a picketed post with four block-houses, two stone 
houses and a house for the sick, will be finished this day. Then I 
shall turn my attention to building pirogues for the purpose of 
transporting heavy baggage and provisions down the river, and 
anxiously wait your answer with relation to supplies. I shall remain 
in readiness to march as soon as it is received. 



Gefnet'al Ha/rrison CorrimxvndeT-'m-CJiief. 139 

If General Harrison ifl at TJrbana, you will commnnicate the con- 
tents of this letter to him. If I knew where he could be found, I 
should address a letter to him on the same subject. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect. 

Your Excellency's obedient serxant, 

J. Winchester, 
Brigadier (rencra! r. S. Arinif. 
To His Excellency Return J. Meigs, Urbana. 



The appointment of Harrison to the post of Comraander-in Chief 
over all the forces in the West and Northwest was made on the 
iTth of September. 1812, and officially ratified on the 24th of that 
month. 

The following judicious instructions, liberal in their spirit, and 
just to the administration and to General Harrison, were forwarded 
from the War Department : 

War Department, September 17, 1812. 

Sir : The President is pleased to assign to you the comman<i of the 
Northwestern army which, in addition to the regular troops and 
rangers in those quarters, will consist of the volunteers and militia 
of Kentucky, Ohio and three thousand detached militia from Vir- 
ginia and Pennsylvania, making your whole force consist of ten 
thousand men. 

Having proceeded for the protection of the western frontier, you 
will re-take Detroit and, with a view to the conc|uest of Upper 
Canada, you will penetrate that country as soon as the force under 
your command will justify. Every exertion is making to give you a 
train of artillery from Pittsburgh, to ell'ect which, you must be sen- 
sible, recjuires time. Major StcxMard. the senior otlieer of artillery 
at that place, will advise you of his arrangements and projects, and 
receive your instructions. Captain Gratiot, of the engineers, will 
report himself to you from Pittsburgh. He will receive your orders 
and join you with the first pieces of artillery which can be prepared, 
or receive such orders as you may direct. Major Ball of the Second 
Regiment of Dragoons will also re[)ort himself and join you imme- 
diately. Sucli start" officers as you may appoint, conformably to law, 
will be approved by the President. 

Copies of all the contracts for 8Up|>lying provisions have been 
transmitted. Mr. Denny, the contractor at Pittsburgh, is instructed 
to tuniish magazines ot provisions at such points .as you may direct. 
The Deputy Quartermaster at Pittsburgh will continue to forward 
sitores and munitions of every kind, and will meet your requisitions. 



140 General Harrisoji^s Plan. 



Colonel Buford, Deputy Commissioner at Lexington, is furnished 
with funds and is subject to your orders. Should an additional pur- 
chasing commissary become necessary, you will appoint one, and 
authorize him to draw and sell bills on this department. It seems 
desirable to keep the local contractors in requisition as far as they 
can supply. With these objects in view you will command such 
means as may be practicable. Exercise your own discretion and 
act in all cases according to your own judgment. 
Very respectfully, I have the honor to be. 

Sir, your obedient servant, 

W. EUSTIS. 
To General Wm. H. Harrison, Commanding the N. W. Army. 



Meantime Fort Wayne had been relieved, and the line of the 
Maumee secured ; so that, when Harrison found himself placed at 
the head of military affairs in the West, his main objects were, 
as will have been noted, first, to drive the hostile Indians from the 
western side of the Detroit river ; second, to take Maiden ; and third, 
having thus secured his communications, to recapture the Michigan 
territory and its dependencies. 

The plan adopted by General Harrison to meet the duties incum- 
bent upon him was, to collect the troops at four points, Wooster, 
Urbana, Fort Defiance and St. Mary's. From these places the 
object for concentration for his troops was the rapids of the Maumee. 
The forced expedition at fii-st adopted against Detroit was noAV 
abandoned, because the infantry could not be in readiness to secure 
and retain the acquisition, should it be made. 

The base line of the new campaign was one drawn from Upper 
Sandusky along the southerly side of the swampy district to St. 
Mary's. These two places, with Fort McArthur between them, 
"ttrere intended as the depots lor provisions, artillery and military 
stores. The troops at Defiance were intended to act as a corps of 
observation, and wdien the artillery should be brought to Upper 
Sandusky, they were to advance to the rapids. At Lower Sandusky 
a corps of observation was also stationed, which, with that at Defiance, 
would form the extremities of the new military base, when the array 
should have reached the advanced position mentioned on the Mau- 
mee. These arrangements covered the frontiers by the diff'erent 
corps, and kept the troops within the bounds of the ordinary con- 
tractors; while the quartermasters were accumulating provisions 



Fort Jennings Erected^ 1 41 



farther in advance, and procuring means of transportation across 
the tlitficult district of country so well termed the Black Swamp. 
General Winchester was in command of the troops at Fort Wa,n.*, 
and General Harrison had proceeded to .St. Clary's, where about three 
thousand men were ciollected for the purpose of the expedition 
atjainst Detroit already alluded to. This ex)>edition had heen 
abandoned by the commanding General, for reasons which have 
been already assigned. While in this position, information was 
received by Quartermaster Thomas D. Carneal. that a lari^e force 
of British and Indians, with artillery, was passing up the lett bank 
of the Maumee, towards Fort Wayne. General Harrison immedi- 
ately determined ])y a rapid march upon the continence of the 
Auglaize with the Maumee. to try and intercept the return of this 
detachment, knowing it would be met in front by the return of 
Winchester, The force under the immediate command of the Gen- 
eral at this time consisted of some troops of cavalry from Ohio and 
Kentucky ; the mounted corps of Finley of the former State, and 
of K. M. Johnson belonging to the latter; together with the in- 
fantry regiments of Poague, Barbee and Jennings. The latter officer 
with his regiment had previously been detached to erect an inter- 
mediate post between St. Marys and Defiance, called Fort Jennings. 

On the oOth of September,* General Harrison set out on the pro- 
posed expedition. Apprehensive that the infantry would too much 
retard his progress, after the first day's march, the two regiments 
were ordered to return; and the General, at the head of the cavalry, 
continued his march. No weather, or condition of a country, could 
be more trying to the feelings and the subordination of irregular 
troops, than during this forced expedition of General Harrison. The 
rain fell in torrents: the fiat beech woods were covered with water, 
and they were so swampy that the horses sank half leg dee[) at every 
step. On the close of the second days march, the troops encamped 
in a bottom of the Auglaize. 

'' A description of the bivouac of this night might well serve for that 
of many similar ones which were pas.sed by the General and his troops 
during this campaign, with the exception of tlu- increase of sufFer- 



• Here is au c-iror In tiutc, mnilc by Mr Hutler, In hi;* History of Ki-ntucky, authority 
which Is generally repnrde<l, and juftly, too, of the hi);hc«t character. It iiiuhI havt- liceii 
scvenil days latpr than Sepicmht-r ;iOi)i ; for, on the 15th of October, Cicu«rol WiuchcBtcr 
writes to Governor Mclfjs that he was desirous of comuuinicatinj,' with Ueneral Ilarrirau, but 
did not " know where he could be found.'' 



142 A Wight Bivouac on the Auglaize. 

ing from the severe cold of winter. The troops being on a forced 
march, were not suffered to encamp as long as there was light 
enough to march. They were formed as well as possible in an 
order of encampment, and guards placed out. The ground of the 
encampment here spoken of, was on the side of the Auglaize 
river, in a flat beech bottom, which was nearly covered by the 
water from the rain, which fell in torrents during the whole night. 
The troops were without axes, and their tomahawks could efiect 
nothing with the large green beech trees. Happy were they who 
could find a dry log in which a fire could be kindled. Those who 
had not this good fortune were obliged to content themselves with 
passing the night sitting on their saddles at the roots of the trees, 
against which they leaned and procured a little sleep. Being sepa- 
rated from the baggage, there were few who had anything to eat, 
or spirits to drink. In a situation of this kind, men are peevish and 
ill-natured, in the venting of which a thousand circumstances contin- 
ually occur. To prevent ebullitions of this kind, and to produce 
more pleasant feelings, the General, seated round a small fire with 
his staff, wrapped in his cloak, and taking the rain as it fell, directed 
one of his officers to sing an Irish glee. The humor of this song, 
and the determination which seemed to exist at limdquarters to put 
circumstances at defiance, soon produced cheerfulness and good 
humor throughout the camp." 

By day-break of the next morning, the march was resumed, the 
troops being required to be in readiness to mount by reveille. In 
the course of the next day, the General was met by an officer 
from General Winchester, who informed him of the latter offi- 
cer's arrival at Fort Defiance, and the united body of British and 
Indians had retired down the Maumee. He then prosecuted his 
march, with a small escort, to Winchester's camp, leaving his 
detachment to come up more at their leisure. He arrived late at 
night. 

At. Fort Defiance a revolt in the Kentucky regiment of Colonel 
Allen took place, which, for its honorable termination, as well as 
from motives of historical fidelity, requires to be mentioned. It 
has been but obscurely alluded to by General McAfee and Mr- 
Dawson. 

Soon after General Harrison's arrival at camp, and after he had 
retired to enjoy some little repose, so welcome to any one who had 
been exposed on the preceding comfortless and forced expedition, 



Pefimice — Revolt in a Kentvcky Rtghnenf. 143 



he foun<l himself suddeuly awakened by Colonel Allen and Major 
,M. 1 ). lliiidin. These officers were the hearers ol" the mortityint^ 
news tliat Aliens ret^iment. exhausted hy the hard f;ire of the cam- 
I»aiu;n, and <lisa|»|tniMted in the expectation of an iiiunediate enuaLCe- 
nienl with the enemy, had, in defiance of their duty to their country, 
and all the earnest, imj»as.»ioned remonstrances of their otticers, 
determined to return home. The^e oflicers assured General Ilarri 
son that they could do nothing with their men ; that their represen- 
tations were answere<l by insults alone. They begged the General 
to rise and interfere, as the only officer who had any prospect of 
bringing the mutineers back to their (Uity. He refused to interfere 
at that time, but assured the gentlemen that he would attend to 
the serious object of their request in his own way, and at his own 
time. The officers retired. In tlie meantime, General Harrison sent 
one of his aids to direct (xeneral Winchester to order the alarm, or 
point of war, to be beat on the following morning, instead of the 
reveille. This adroit expedient brought all the troops to their arms 
the first thing in the morning. It diverted the spirits of the discon- 
tented troops into a new channel of feeling, and prepared them for 
the subsequent events. 

On thi- parading of the tn)o[).s at their posts, General Winchester 
was ordered to form them into a hollow square. General Harrison 
now appeared uj)Oh parade, much to the surprise of the troops, who, 
from his late arrival in camp, were utiajjpristd of his presence. If 
the sudden and unexpectetl arrival of their favuriti- commander had 
so visible an effect upon the men, his immediate address to them 
fully preserved the impression. He began by lamenting that there 
Were, as he was informed, considerable di.«content in one of the 
Kentucky regiujents: this, although a source of mortification to 
himself, on their account, was happily of little consequence to the 
gr)vernment. He had more troops than he knew well what to do 
with at the present stage of the campaign; he was expecting daily 
thf arrival of the Pennsylvania and Virginia quotas. It is fortniuite, 
.said this olbcvr, with the ready oratory lor whicii his native Virginia 
is .so famed, that he had found out this dissatislaclion itelbre the 
campaign was farlhtr advanced, when the di.scoviTy might have lieen 
mischievous to the public interests, as wi'll as disgracefid to the 
parties conceriH'd. Now, .xo far as the government was intrnsltd, 
the di.-conteuled hoops, who hail c<»mf iuto the woods with tin- 
e.\|K'Ctation of lirnling all the luxuries of home and of ptac.-, had 



144 Defiance — Revolt in a Kentucky Regiment. 

full liberty to return. He would, he continued, order facilities to be 
furnished for their immediate accommodation. But he could not 
refrain from expressing the mortification he anticipated for the 
reception they would meet from the old and the young, who had 
greeted them on their march to the scene of war, as their gallant 
neighbors. 

What must be their feelings, said the General, to see those whom 
they had hailed as their generous defenders, now returning without 
striking a blow, and before their term of plighted service had ex- 
pired? But if this would be the state of public sentiment in Ohio, 
what would it be in Kentucky ? If their fathers did not drive their 
degenerate sons back to the field of battle to recover their wounded 
honor, their mothers and sisters would hiss them from their presence. 
If, however, the discontented men were disposed to put up with all 
the taunts and disdain which awaited them wherever they went, 
they were, General Harrison again assured them, at full liberty to go 
back. 

The influence of this animated address was instantaneous. This 
was evinced in a manner most flattering to the tact and management 
of the commander. Colonel J. M. Scott, the senior Colonel of Ken- 
tucky, and who had served in the armies of Harmar, St. Clair, and 
Wayne, in the medical staff, now addressed his men. These were 
well known in the army as the " Iron Works," from the neighbor- 
hood from which they had come. " You, my boys,'' said the generous 
veteran, " will prove your attachment for the service of your country, 
and your General, by giving him three cheers." The address was 
attended with immediate success, and the air resounded with the 
shouts of both ofiicers and men. 

Colonel Lewis next took up the same course, and with the same 
effect. 

It now became the turn of the noble Allen again to try the temper 
of Ids men. He begged leave of the General to address them: but 
excess of emotion choked his utterance; at length he gave vent to 
the contending feelings of his heart, in a broken, but forcible address, 
breathing the Are which ever burned so ardently in his breast. At 
the close of it, however, he conjured the soldiers of his regiment to 
give the General the same manifestation of their patriotism and re- 
turning sense of duty, which the other Kentucky regiments had so 
freely done. The wishes of their high spirited officer were complied 
with ; and a mutiny was nipped in its bud, which might, if persisted 



Defiance — Revolt in a Kentucky Regiment. 145 

in, have spread disaffection through the Kentucky troops, to the 
■ disgrace of that gallant State, and the lasting injury of the public 
cause. No troops, however, behaved more faithfully or zealously 
through the remainder of their service, till the greater part of them 
offered up their lives in defence of their country on the fatal field 
of Eaisin. 

General Harrison having quelled this unhapj^y disturbance, in the 
subordination of the troops, now made his arrangements with Gen- 
eral Winchester, for the full command of the left wing. To this 
officer were committed the regulars under Colonel Wells, the regi- 
ments of Scott, Lewis and Allen, already mentioned, and the 
additional regiments under Colonels Poague, Barbee, and Jennings. 
Colonel Bodley, the quartermaster of this wing, an efficient and 
zealous officer of Kentucky, was fully empowered by General Harrison 
to draw upon the treasury for the carrying into effect all orders 
which he might receive from General Winchester for the supply of 
his command. 

It now became necessary for the commanding General to direct 
his attention to the arrangements for the accommodation of the 
troops, which were marching to his reinforcement from Pennsylvania 
and Virginia. These, together with the brigade of General Perkins, 
of the Ohio militia, constituted the right wing of the army. Not 
only provisions were to be collected for this body of men, but all the 
materiel of war, ammunition and artillery, were yet to be obtained. 
It will hardly be believed in the future history of America, that 
when but two pieces of disposable artillery of small calibre had, by 
the disgraceful surrender of Hull, been left in the Western country, 
and which the commanding General informed the Secretary of War 
he had rather be without, cannon should have been sent to Pitts- 
burgh without their carriages. Yet such was the fact; and when 
the whole country supposed General Harrison was thoroughly sup- 
plied with all the munitions of war, which the government was so 
able to furnish, the trees were still growing about Pittsburgh, out of 
vvhich'the carriages of the artillery were to be manufactured. 

This was the state of protracted destitution of the army, in regard 
to a most important military arm. 

Colonel Morrison, an old Revolutionary officer, and Colonel 
William Piatt, had been appointed deputy Quartermasters-General 
in the service, to act at the head of their department in the North- 
western army. These officers were placed under the command of 

11 



146 General Tapper to Oovernor Meigs. 

General Winchester ; and he was fully informed of the general plan 
of the campaign by General Harrison, and thus became responsible 
for the part assigned him, in the general operations of the military 
service. 

General E. W. Tupper, commanding the central column, addressed 
to Governor Meigs the following letter: 

Camp, Near McA^rthue's Block-House,) 
November 9th, 1812. j 

Sir: — I have for some time thought a })risoner from near the 
Maumee Eapids would at this time be of much service, and highly 
acceptable to General Harrison. For this purpose I ordered Captain 
Hinkton to the Eapids, with his company of spies, with orders to 
take a prisoner, if ])ossible. He has just returned, and brought in 
with him Captain A. Clark, a British subject, who resides two miles 
above Maiden, and was out with a party of about five hundred Indians 
and fifty British, with two gunboats, six bateaux, and one small 
schooner at the foot of the Rapids, to gather in and carry over to 
Maiden the corn. Captain Clark had but just arrived with the van 
of the detachment. The vessels and boats had 'not yet anchored 
when the spies surprised him as he advanced a few rods from the 
shore to reconnoitre, and brought him off undiscovered ; and this 
from a number of Indians, who were killing hogs and beginning to 
gather corn. At the same time, several of Captain Hinkton's spies 
lay concealed on the bank within five rods of the place where some 
of the first boats were landing. Captain Hinkton has conducted 
this business with great skill and address. Captain Clark was taken 
prisoner on the 7th instant, a little before sun setting. He informs 
me that the force now. at the Rapids contemplated remaining there 
from ten to fifteen days, in order to convey the whole of the corn in 
that neighborhood to Maiden. I know not, sir, whether it will meet 
your approbation, or that of our commander-in-chief; but I have 
ordered every man in the brigade who does not fear the fatigues of a 
rapid march, and is in a condition to perform it, to draw five days' 
provisions, and march with me for the Rapids in the morning, 
taking nothing with tliem but their provisions, knapsacks and 
blankets, Although the force will not exceed six hundred and 
fifty, I am convinced it is sufficient to rout the force now at the 
Eapids, and save tl-e greater part of the corn, which is all-important 
to us. A moment is not to be lost. We shall be at the Rapids in 
three days. 

I have also sent an express to General Winchester, advising 
him of the situation of the enemy, and of our march ; but as 
we can reach the Rapids one day sooner than General Winchester 
waiting for my express, I could not think of losing one day, and 
thereby suffer the enemy to escape with the forage. 



British Office)- Captured. 147 



Captain Clark informs nic that there are but few Indians now at 
Maiden ; that they have principally heen in and received their 
annuities and returned to their families. The Brownstown Indians 
are now at the Kapids with the foraging party — amounting to about 
sixty mounted warriors. The other Indians now at the Rapids are 
Chippeways, Ottawus and Pottawotamies, who came up in the vessels 
and canoes. Detroit is now garrisoned with fifty men of the forty- 
tirst regiment, under the command of General Proctor. They have 
made no improvement on the fort. The battery opposite to Detroit 
is demolished. Eight large pieces of cannon taken at Detroit, now 
lie on the wharf at Maiden. Captain Clark cannot say what num- 
ber of cannon are mounted at Detroit; — he thinks but few. and 
those small. ^lalden is garrisoned with about live hundred I'egular 
troops of the forty-tirst regiment, and about two hundred militia. It 
mounts four heavy cann<Mi in each bastion, consisting of l8-i)ounder3 
and long 9-])ounders. T'le greatest force of militia they have ever 
been able to raise was about four hundred. The Indian force at the 
surrender of Detroit did not exceed seven hundred — the British 
regulars and militia between six and seven hundred. Captain Clark 
must be a good judge of the force, having been in the battles of 
Brownstown and Maguaga, and at the surrender of Detroit. At 
Maiden they are strengthening the fortifications, though they do not 
calculate on an expedition from the United States this season. They 
are apprised of General Winchester's force, but understand he is 
building a fort at Defiance, and is to remain there during the winter. 
They have no knowledge of any other preparations making in the 
State of Ohio. 

This contains the most important part of the information I have 
gained from Captain Clark. I have given him to understand that 
his treatment hereafter will depend entirely upon the truth of his 
relations. I send him off in the morning to General Harrison. I 
write you, sir, in great haste. The preparations making lor our 
march will employ me the whole night. I take with me one light 
6-pounder, drawn by six liorses. I am in hopes of finding some of 
those vessels in the river, and with this piece I can advance thirty 
miles per day. 

I am, very respectfully. 

Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

Edward W. Tupper, 

Jiri'jadkr Oen. Ohio Quota. 
To his Excellency K. J. M'ii^a, Governor of Ohio. 

P. S. — I shall not take a man with me but siu-h as volunteer their 
services. I have assured them that they will have to endure hunger, 
fatigue, difliculties and dangers. Such as fear to risk their lives, or 
encounter the sufferings of a rapid march, on short rations, I leave 
behind to guard our camp. 



148 The Situation at the close 0/ 1812. 

Tlie troops commanded by General Tu^jper were raised chiefly 
from the county of his residence, (Gallia,) and from Lawrence and 
Jackson counties. 

Thus, at the close of the year 1812, nothing effectual had been 
done towards the re-conquest of Michigan. Winchester, with the 
left wing of the army, was at Defiance, on his way to the Rapids, 
his men enfeebled by sickness, want of clothes, and want of food ; 
the right wing at Upper Sandusky, and the centre resting at Fort 
McArthur. 

Several smaller operations had taken place, and one of some 
importance occurred near the close of the year, when General Harri- 
son dispatched a party of six hundred men against the Miami 
villages upon the Mississinneway, a branch of the Wabash. This 
body, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, 
destroyed several villages and fought a severe battle with the 
Indians, who were defeated; but the severity of the weather, the 
number of his wounded (forty-eight), the scarcity of provisions, and 
the fear of an attack from Tecumseh, at the head of six hundred fresh 
savages, led Colonel Campbell to retreat immediately after the battle, 
without destroying the principal town of the enemy. The expedi- 
tion, however, was not without valuable results, as it induced some 
of the tribes to come openly and wholly under the protection and 
within the borders of the Republic. 

On the 10th of January, 1813, Winchester with his troops reached 
the Rapids. From the 13tli to the 16th, messengers arrived at Win- 
chester's camp from the inhabitants of Frenchtown on the river 
Raisin, representing the danger to which that place was exposed 
from the hostility of the British and Indians, and begging for pro- 
tection. These representations and petitions excited the feelings of 
the Americans, and led them, forgetful of the main objects of the 
campaign, and of military caution, to determine upon the step of 
sending a strong party to the aid of the sufferers. On the 17tl), ac- 
cordingly, Col. Lewis was despatched with 550 men to the river 
Raisin, and soon after Col. Allen followed with 110 men. Marching 
along the frozen borders of the Bay and Lake, on the afternoon of 
the 18th the Americans reached and attacked the enemy who were 
posted in the village, and after a severe contest defeated them. 
Having gained possession of the town. Colonel Lewis wrote for rein- 
forcements and prepared himself to defend the position he had 
gained. And it was evident that all his means of defence would be 



Winchester'' 8 Mistahe. 149 



needed, as the place was but eighteen miles from Maiden, where the 
wliole Britisli force was collected under Proctor. Winchester, on 
th'j 10th, h.iving heard of the action of tin.* prt-vioiid day, marched 
with 259 men, which wa- tiie most he darod detach from the llai)ide', 
to the aid of the captor of Frenchtown, which jdace he reached on 
the next eveninfj. But instead of placinc: his men in a secure posi- 
tion, and taking measures to prevent the secret a]ii)ruach of the 
enemy, Winchester suffered the troops he had brought with him to 
remain in the open irround, aiul took noeflicient measures to protect 
himself from surprise, although informed that an attack might be 
expected at any moment. The consequence was that during the 
niglit of the 21st the whole British force approached undiscovered 
and erected a battery within 300 yards of tlie American camp. 
From this, before the troops were fairly under arms in the morning, 
a discharge of bombs, balls, and grapeshnt, informed the devoted 
soldiers of Winchester of the folly of their commander, and in a 
moment more the dreaded Indian yell sounded on every side. The 
troops under Lewis were protected by the garden pickets behind 
which their commander, who alone seems to have been upon his 
guard, had stationed them ; tbe troops yielded, broke and fled, but 
fled under a tire which mowed them down like grass ; Winchester 
and Lewis (who had left his pickets to aid his superior officer), were 
taken prisoners. Upon the party who fought from behind their 
slight defences, however, no impression could be made, and it was 
not till Winchester was induced to send them what was deemed an 
ordtT to surrender that they dreamed of doing so. This Proctor 
persuaded him to do by the old story of an Indian massacre in case 
of continued resistance, to which he added a promise of help and 
j)rotectiou for the wounded, and of a removal at the earliest 
moment: without which last promise the troojis of Lewis refused to 
yield even when required by their General. But the promise, even 
if given in good faith, was not redeemed, and the horrors of the 
succeeding night and day will long be remembered by the inhab- 
itants of the frontier. Of a portion of those horrors we give a 
description in the words of an eye-witness : 

NiciroLASViLLE, Kentucky, April 24th, 1813. 

xSVr; — Yours of the r)th instant, requesting me to give you a 
statement respecting the late disaster at Fniichtown, wi;s duly 
receivid. IJest assured, sir, thjit it is with seufaliojig the nicft 



150 Tlie Massacre at River Raisin. 



unpleasant that I undertake to recount the infamous and barbarous 
conduct of the British and Indians after the battle of the 32d 
January. The blood runs cold in my A^eins when I think of it. 

On tbe morning of the 23d, sliortly after light, six or eight Indians 
came to the house of Jean Baptiste Jereaume, where I was, in com- 
pany with Major Graves, Captains Hart and Hickman, Doctor Todd, 
and fifteen or twenty volunteers, belonging to different corps. They 
did not molest any person or thing on their first approach, but kept 
sauntering about until there was a large number collected (say one 
or two hundred), at which time they commenced plundering the 
houses of the inhabitants, and the massacre of the wounded 
prisoners. I was one amongst the first that was taken prisoner, and 
was taken to a horse about twenty paces from the house, after being 
divested of part of my clothing, and commanded by signs there to 
remain for further orders. Shortly after being there, I saw them 
knock down Captain Hickman at the door, together with several 
others with whom I was not acquainted. Supposing a general mas- 
sacre had commenced, I made an effort to get to a house about one 
hundred yards distant, which contained a number of wounded, but 
on my reaching the house, to my great mortification, found it sur- 
rounded by Indians, which precluded the possibility of my giving 
notice to the unfortunate 'victims of savage barbarity. An Indian 
chief of tlie Tawa tribe of the name of M'Carty, gave me possession 
of his horse and blanket, telling me ])y signs to lead the horse to the 
house which I had just before left. The Indian that first took me, 
by this time came up, and manifested a hostile disposition towards 
me, by raising his tomahawk as if to give me the fatal blow, which 
was prevented by my very good friend M'Carty. On my reaching 
the house which I had first started from, I saw the Indians take off 
several prisoners, which I afterwards saw in the road, in a most 
mangled condition, and entirely stripped of their clothing. 

Messrs. Bradford, Searls, Turner and BIythe, were collected round 
a carryall, which contained articles taken by the Indians from the 
citizens. We had all been placed there, by our respective captors, 
except BIythe, who came where we were entreating an Indian to 
convey him to Maiden, promising to give him forty or fifty dollars, 
and whilst in the act of pleading for mercy, an Indian more savage 
than the other, stepped up behind, tomahawked, stripped and scalped 
him. The next that attracted my attention, was the houses on fire 
that contained several wounded, whom I knew were not able to get 
cut. After the houses were nearly consumed, we received marching 
orders, and after arriving at Sandy Creek, the Indians called a halt 
and commenced cooking; after preparing and eating a little sweet- 
ened gruel, Messrs. Bradford, Searles, Turner and myself, received 
some, and were eating, when an Indian came up and proposed 
exchanging his moccasins for Mr. Searls' shoes, which he readily 
complied with. They then exchanged hats, after whicli the Indian 
inquired how many men Harrison had with him, and, at the same 



Tl\^ Massacre at River Raisin. 151 



time, callinnj Searls a Wjvshinijtoii or Miulison, then raised liis toma- 
hawk and struck hitn on the shoulder, which cut into tlie cavity of 
the body. Scarls then can^rht hohl of the tonialiawk and !ipi)earcd 
to resist, and upon my telling him his fate was incvitiiljje, he closed 
his eyes and received the savage blow which terminated his existence. 
I was near enough to him to receive the brains and l)lood, after the 
tatal blow, on my blanket. A short time after the death of Searls, I 
saw three others share a similar fate. We then set out f(jr lirowns- 
town, which place we reached about 13 or 1 o'clock at nigiit. After 
being exposed to several hours' incessant rain in reaching that place, 
we were put into tin- council house, the floor of which was partiv 
covered with water, at which place we remained until next morning, 
when we again received marching orders for their vilhifre on the 
river Kouge, which place wo made that day, where I Avas kept six 
days, then taken to Detroit and sold. For a more detailed account 
of the proceedings, I take the lilicrty of referring .you to a ]iubli- 
cation which a])peared in the public prints, signed l>y Ensign J. L. 
liaker, and to the i)ubIication of Judge Woodward, both of which I 
have particularly examined, and Und them to be literally correct, so 
far as came under my notice. 

I am, sir, with due regard, your fellow-citizen, 

GrsTAVUs M. Bower, 
Surgeon's Mate Fifth Regiment Kentticky Volunteers. 
Jesse Bledsoe, Esq., Lexington. 

Of the American army, which was about 800 strong, one-third 
were killed in the battle and the massacre which followed, and but 
33 escaped. 

General Harrison, as we have stated, was at Upper Sandusky when 
Winchester reached the Kapids ; on the night of the 16th word 
came to him of the arrival of the left wing at that point, and of 
some meditated movement. He at once proceeded with all speed to 
L(jwer Sandusky, and on the morning of the 18th sent forward a 
battalion of troops to the support of Winchester. On the 19th he 
learned what the movement was that had been meditated and made, 
and with additional troops he started instantly fi>r the Rai)ids, where 
he arrived early on tlu- juorning of the '^'Oth ; here he awaited the 
arrival of the regiment with Mhich he had started, but which he had 
outstripped; this came on the evening of tlie '-2 1st, and on the fol- 
lowing morning was desi)atched to Frenchtown. while all the troops 
belonging to the army of Winchester yet at the Ilai)id.s, 300 in 
number, were also hurried on to the aid of their commander. lUit 
it wap, of course, in vain ; on that morning the battle was fought, 
and General Harrison with his reinforcements met the few suivivors 



152 Harrison Abandons Fort Meigs. 

long before they reached the ground. A council being culled, it was 
deemed unwise to advance any further, and the troops retired to the 
Rapids again ; here, during the night, another consultation took 
place, the result of which was a determination to retreat yet farther 
in order to prevent the possibility of being cut off from the convoys 
of stores and artillery upon their way from Sandusky. On the next 
morning, therefore, the block-house which had been built was 
destroyed, together with the provisions it contained, and the troops 
retired to Portage river, eighteen miles in the rear of Winchester's 
position, there to aivait the guns and reinforcements which were 
daily expected, but which, as it turned out, were detained by'rains 
until the 30th of January. Finding his army 1700 strong, Greneral 
Harrison on the 1st of February again advanced to the Eapids, 
where he took up a new and stronger position, at which point he 
ordered all the troops as rapidly as possible to gather. He did this 
in the hope of being able before the middle of the month to advance 
upon Maiden, but the causes which compelled him to abandon this 
hope are clearly set forth in the following letter addressed to the 
S ecretary of War : 

Headquarters, Foot of the Miami Rapids, 
11th February, 1813. 

8ir : — Having been joined by General Leftraech, with his brigade, 
and a regiment of the Pennsylvania quota at Portage river, on the 
30th ultimo, I marched from thence on the 1st instant, and reached 
this place on the morning of the 2d, with an effective force of about 
sixteen hundred men. I have been since joined by a Kentucky 
regiment, and General Tupper's Ohio brigade, which has increased 
our numbers to two thousand non-commissioned officers and 
privates. Your letter of the 27th ultimo, was received before I 
left the camp at Portage river, and although the injunctions 
contained in it were such as to produce many doubts of the 
propriety of pushing on the arrangements calculated for the 
accomplishment of the principal objects of the campaign during 
the present winter, yet there were other considerations Avhjch 
produced a preponderence in my mind in favor of prosecuting 
them with vigor as long as a hope remained of their being suc- 
cessful. I accordingly ordered the whole of the troops of the left 
wing, excepting one company for each of the six forts in that 
([uarter — the balance of the Pennsylvania brigade, and the Ohio 
brigade, under General Tnpper, and a detachment of regular troops 
and twelve months' volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant 
Colonel Campbell, to march to this place as soon as posssible, believ- 
ing I should be able to advance from hence by this day or to-mor- 



Difficulties of Transporting Army Svpplies. 158 



row ; unil it' it were uot in my power to lukc lie;ivy artillery for the 
siege of Maiden. I shouKl be enabled to tseour tlie whole conntrv — 
disperse the Indians — destroy all the 8hipi)in;,' of the enemy and 
the greater part of their i)rovisions, aiul leave a portion at or near 
Brownstown nntil a furtlior snpply of cannon and stores conld be 
brought up. Such was my ))lan when I marched from Portage 
river on the 1st instant, and my situation was such as to authorize 
the strongest hopes of success. Although the aggregate amount of 
all the eflective men in all the corps above mentioned was only a 
number that will greatly surprise you to be furnished with so many 
nominal brigades, and the i)eriod of service of the Kentucky and 
Oiiio troops was rapidly terminating — some of ihem expiriuL' al)ont 
the middle of the month, aiul all before the last of it— I had estab- 
lished with them the i)rincij)al that I had a right to march them to 
any point before the d;iy whicii would complete their fourteen 
months' tour; and I know them too well to believe that they would 
abandon me in the country of the enemy. Provisions and ammuni- 
tion were also on the road from the Sanduskys [Upper and Lower J 
and McArthur's Block-house, in considerable (puintities, and measures 
taken to supply the means ot transportion for the advance from this 
place. These fair prospects have been entirely destroyed by circum- 
stances which no human being could control. The present is 
precisely the season, in common years, when the most intense frosts 
prevail in this country, giving the most perfect security and facility 
in passing the lakes, rivers and swamps with which it abounds. For 
the last twelve or fifteen days, howerer, it has been so warm that the 
roads have become entirely broken up, and for a considerable distance 
in our rear absolutely impassable for wagons or sleds, and can with 
great difliculty be traversed with single horses. A number of wagons 
and sleds, loaded with ammunition and other munitions of war, 
have been eighteen days coming from Upper Sandusky, and are yet 
twenty- live miles off. Eight days they were stopped by an uncom- 
mon freshet in the Tymocta, and havi been two more iu getting 
twenty-live miles. The weather has even alTecfed the ice of the lake. 
On the evening before last, I went with a detachment in i)ursuit of 
a body of Indians, who were driving off the cattle from a small 
French settlement al)out fourteen miles from this place. We pur- 
sued them for about twenty-six miles upon the ice, which was so weak 
in many i)laces that a O-jxuinder which was taken with us broke 
through and was nearly lost, as did several <tf the officers who were 
fi.ounted. I have waited with an anxiety which I cannot describe 
for a change in the weather; and until this day I never al)andoned 
the hoi)e of being able to execute the jdan which I had formed. It 
is now, however, the 11th of the month, tin- period for which the 
Kentucky troops, which first took the Held, were to serve, expires in 
four days: but if I wen- ready to advance, I am satisfied they would 
not hesitate to follow me. To persevere longer under the exj)ecta- 
tion of accomplishing the objects of the eanipaii:n during the winter. 



154 Posts on the Auglaize, St. Mary's^ and at 



is, in my opinion, no longer proper, considering the enormous 
expense which a continuance of these efforts at this season daily 
produces, and which could only be justified by a reasonable hope 
of success under present appearances. I can no longer indulge such 
hopes. Indeed, I fear I shall be censured for having cherished them 
too long, and that I have sacrificed the public interests in a vain 
pursuit. I have no hesitation, however, in asserting that I have it 
in my power to satisfy the government that their wishes would have 
l)een accomplished but for the unfortunate event of the Eiver 
Raisin, nnd others over which I could have no control; and that 
until a few days since my calculations of succeeding were supported 
by the opinion of every general and field officer in the army. 

It remains for me, sir, to inform you of the disposition I shall 
make of the troops for the remaining part of the winter. A battal- 
ion of the militia lately called out from this State, with the company 
of regular troops now at Fort Winchester, will garrison the posts 
upon the waters of the Auglaize and St. Mary's. The small block- 
houses upon Hull's trace, will have a subaltern's command in each. 
A company will be placed at Upper Sandusky, and another at Lower 
Sandusky. All the rest of the troops will be brought to this place, 
amounting to from fifteen to eighteen hundred men. 

I am erecting here a pretty strong fort — capable of resisting field 
artillery at least. The troops will be placed in a fortified camp, 
covered on one flank by the, fort. This position is the best that can 
be taken to cover the frontiers, and the small posts in the rear of 
it, and those above it on the Miami and its waters. The force placed 
here ought, however, to be strong enough to encounter any that 
the enemy may detach against the forts above. Twenty-five hun- 
dred would not be too many. But anxious to reduce the expenses 
during the winter within as narrow bounds as possible, I have 
desired the Governor of Kentucky not to call out, but to hold in 
readiness to march, the fifteen hundred men lately required of him. 
All the teams which have been hired for the public service will be 
immediately discharged, and those belonging to the public which are 
pricipally oxen, disposed of in the settlements, where forage is 
cheaper, and every other arrangement made which can lessen the 
expenses during the winter. Attention will still, however, be paid 
to the deposit of supplies for the ensuing campaign. Little remains 
to complete these. Immense supplies of provisions have been accu- 
mulating upon the Auglaize river, and boats and pirogues prepared 
to bring tVem down as soon as the river opens. I shall have the 
honor to give you a more particular account of these in a few days. 

I regret that I had the misfortune to be misunderstood by Colonel 
Munroe, in his letter of the 17th ultimo. He supposed that I had 
asserted in mine of the 4th, that Maiden could not be taken by first 
marching to Detroit and crossing the strait there with an army 
sufficiently strong, and taking with it everything which it would 
want, either for its subsistence or for annoying the enemy. It would 
certainly not be material at what point it would cross the strait. 



Upper and Lower Sandusly to be Garrisoned. IT) 5 



The whole teuor of my argument, whenever the subject has been 
mentioned in my letters, is this: That by g*''"^' around by Detroit 
more time would i)e required to flloet the objcet, and liiore i)ro- 
visions of course wanted; aiul that if supplies of these M'ere to be 
drawn from the rear, each convoy must be stroufj enongli to resist 
the whole of the enemy's disposable force, because the line of opera- 
tion upon which these convo3's would move — passing almost in sight 
of Maiden, and the enemy having the means of crossing the strait, 
they could attack them when and where they jjleased. I never 
doubted that our army would be able to go anywhere, if sutliciently 
strong, anil having with it such a (|uantity of provisions and other 
necessaries as to re(,uire no siipi)lies IVom the deposits in (he rear. 

I have the honor to enclose you the deposition of a certain , 

who was at the River Kaisin the 22d ultimo, and remained there 
until the 0th inst. His account of tiie loss of the enemy in the action 
is corroborated by several others : nor is there the least reason to doubt 
his statement as regards the h(trrible fate of our wounded men. 
There is another circumstance which plainly shows that the British 
have no intention to conduct the war (at least in this quarter,) upon 
those principles which have been held sacred by all civilized nations. 
On the 30th ultimo I dispatched Doctor McCieehan, a Surgeon's 
mate in the militia, with a flag of truce to ascertain the situation of 
onr wounded. He was attended by one of our militia men and a 
Frenchman. On the night after their departure, they halted near 
this place for the purpose of taking a few hours sleep in a vacant 
cabin upon the bank of the river. The cariole in which they 
travelled was left at the door with the flag set up in it. They were 
diseovered by a partv of Indians, accompanied, it is said, b^' a British 
officer, and attacked, in the manner described in the deposition. Le 
Monte, the militia man, was killed and scalped, and the doctor and 
' Frenchman taken. Dr. ^rctJeehan was furnished with a letter 
addressed to any British officer whom he might meet with, describing 
the character in which he went, atid the object for which he was 
sent. An open letter to General Winchester, and written instruc- 
tions to himself, all of which he was directed to show to the first 
officer he met with. He was also su)>plied with one hundred dollars 
in crold to jirocure necessaries for the wounded. 

Shonld any opportunitv occur of doinc anything in advance, by 
way of aro//;) de main, it shall not be neglected, and there is a ]>rob- 
ability (hat a stroke of this kind mav reach the (^)ueeu Charlotte, 
although she is (yver-^d by the gunn of ^falden. 

I have not yet received the jiromised letter of Colonel Munroe, 
with the late acts of Congress for raising an additional force. When 
I do receive it, I will immediately communicate my sentiments as to 
what may be done under them in the western country. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, 
Your obedient liumble servant. 

Wm. TlExrtY TIarrisox. 
To Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. 



156 State of the Country and of-PiibliG Opinion. 



The communications wliich follow will afford a \iew of the state 
of the country and of the public opinion which followed the disaster 
at River Raisin : 

DATTOisr, February 2d, 1813. 
GoA^ Meigs : 

6'/r .•—Since the news reached this place of the destruction of the 
left wing of the Northwestern Army under Winchester, the inhabi- 
tants are much alarmed. Many families, even in this town, are 
almost on the wing for Kentucky. If the posts at Greenville are to 
be abandoned, this place will be a part of the frontier in ten days 
after. The collections of Indians on our frontiers also heighten the 
alarm. I verily believe that if the Indians are not removed from 
Piqua, the people will rise in a mass and drive them off. I am sorry 
the second expedition to Mississinnaway is given uyj for the present. 
I am confident, from very recent information, that Tecumseh is now 
at Mississinnaway, with upwards of 1,000 warriors. He has not 
been sent there by Proctor to be an idle spectator of passing events: 
the frontier and rear of our army, I presume, is marked out for him 
to act upon. 

Lieutenant Graves, who bears this, and a memorial from the citi- 
zens of the town, can relate to you information received from Colonel 
Wells, who is immediately from General Harrison's camp, &c. I 
have just heard the officers of the three regiments of militia have 
been exchanged, but know nothing as respects my situation. 
With great respect. 

Your obedient, humble servant, A. Edwards. 

General Meigs, Chillicothe. 



Miami County, State of Ohio, Feb. 3d, 1813. 

To His Excellency R. J. Meigs, Gov. of said State : 

The petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth : That whereas 
there are a considerable number of Indians of the Delaware tribe 
called in by order of General Harrison, and are now in our county ; 
that it is but thinly settled on the frontier, distant from a market 
Avhere provisions can be furnished them, and the people of the neigh- 
boihood feel themselves in a dangerous situation in consequence of 
their being exitosed to invasion and depredations from them, they 
being contiguous to the enemy: hence every opportunity of con- 
veying information to them of our situation, moving off and joining 
theai, and doing much mischief from their knowledge of our 
country, &c. This brief petition we would humbly beg your Excel- 
lency to take into consideration, and relieve us from a state of 
uneasiness and alarm, by having them removed into the interior of 
the State, where, fi-om its population, they will be awed into submis- 
sion to the authorities having charge over them, and supported at a 
much less expense to the Government. And we shall as in duty 
bound, &c., G. Smith Houston, and 5^ others. 



. 1 Plucky Irishman Jieports for Dutij. 157 

Hamilton County, Feb. 11th, 1813. 

Dear Sir: — I luive just read the juurnal of an American officer 
(captured at Queenstown on 10th October), kept on his passage from 
Fort (Jeor^^^e to lioston, statinir that while at (Juebec, between fifteen 
and twenty Irishnu'U (naturali/ced citizens, and several of them havinj^ 
familie.s in the United States) were separated from the American 
prisoners, and put on board a ship-of-war to be sent to Botany iiay, 
or executed, for having borne arms against a Power wliich, by its 
multiplied oj>pressions, had driven them from their native liomes to 
seek shelter in a. foreign land. I have no doubt of the Ibregoing 
statement being correct. Tiie British have adopted this system of 
cruelty in order to deprive the United States of the aid of a numerous 
class of citizens. 

It was my hit to be born in Ireland. I have been sixteen years 
in the United States, married here, and have a numerous family. I 
am on the next class for duty, (and it appears our land forces are in 
the habit of being taken prisoners.) To march in the ranks with 
native citizens who, if overpowered, might find safety in surrendering, 
appi'ars for me to be highly imprudent : what would be safety for 
them would be certain destruction to me. I Inive talked with several 
well-informed persons on the sul)ject, whose o])inions coincide with 
mine, and I have no doubt the same sentiment pervades the breast 
of every Irishman in the State. I would march cheerfully enrolled 
with native citizens against the Indians. Our cases would be equal : 
but to nuirch against the British in the sauT- manner, there would 
be no eijuality whatever. Let ns be enrolled in a distinct corps, 
armed and provided, and placed under the flircction of General 
Harrison, and I have no doubt we will deserve well of our adopted 
country. We woidd expect no mercy and take no prisoners. 

If enrolled in a distinct corps, I would prefer marching against 
the British (the Indians have done me no "essential injurv"). I 
have received much injury fnmi the British personally, and thev 
have plundered and insulted my progenitors these twelve hundred 
years. Therefore, vengeance calls aloud, and the voice is irresistili'.e. 

Dear sir, pardon the lil)erty 1 have taken in suggesting the fore- 
going. The urgency of the case i.^ evident. Therefore, I pray your 
Excelhncy to divine how (I presume) six or eight hundred men may 
be of service to their country, and at the same tim<' take amjde ven- 
geance on their enemies. 

I am. with great respect, yourob't servant, 

JonX C'.VMl'liELI., 
Ensign \iit liattnlion 2d Reginunt \»t D. O. }filitiit. 
His Excellency Governor Meigs. 

P. S. — Since the Prince Regent has declared this shall be a war of 
extermination, the sooner we commence business the better. I 
would glory to march in the ranks of a Spartnn band whose be^t 
alternative would be to die with fsvc*^ to the enemv. J. C. 



158 Unsatisfactory State of Military Affairs. 

So far the military operations of the Northwest had certainly been 
sufficiently discouraging: the capture of Mackinac, the surrender of 
Hull, the massacre at Chicago, and the overwhelming defeat at 
Frenchtown, are the leading events. Nothing had been gained, and 
of what had been lost, nothing had been retaken. The slight 
successes over the Indians by Hopkins, Edwards and Campbell, had 
not shaken the power or confidence of Tecumseh and his allies ; 
while the fruitless efforts of Harrison through five months, to gather 
troops enough at the mouth of the Maumee to attempt the recon- 
quest of Michigan, which had been taken in a week, depressed the 
spirits of the Americans, and gave new life and hopes to their foes. 

About the time that Harrison's unsuccessful campaign drew to a 
close, a change took place in the War Department, and General 
Armstrong succeeded his incapable friend, Dr. Eustis. Armstrong's 
views were those of an able soldier. In October, 1812, he had 
again addressed the government, through Mr. Callatin, on the 
necessity of obtainiiig command of the Lakes, and when raised to 
power determined to make naval operations the basis of the military 
movements in the Northwest. His views in relation to the coming 
campaign in the West, were based upon two points, viz. : the use of 
regular troops alone, and the command of the Lakes, which he was 
led to think could be obtained by the 20th of June. 

Although the views of the Secretary in regard to the non-employ- 
ment of militia, were not. and could not be, adhered to, the general 
plan of merely standing upon the defensive until the command of the 
lake was secm-ed, was persisted in, although it was the 2d of August, 
instead of the 1st of June, before the vessels on Erie could leave the 
harbor in which they had been built. Among these defensive opera- 
tions in the spring and summer of 1813, that of Fort Meigs, the new 
post taken by Harrison at the foot of the rapids, and that at Lower 
ISandnsky, deserve to be especially noticed, as they form historical 
wealth which the whole country, and especially the inhabitants of 
the Maumee valley, will ever regard with feelings of pride and in- 
terest. It had been anticipated that, with the opening of spring, the 
British would attempt the conquest of the position upon the Maumee, 
and measures had been taken by the General to forward reinforce- 
ments, which were detained, however, as usual, by the spring freshets 
and the bottomless roads. It was no surprise, therefore, to General 
Harrison, that on the breaking up of the ice in Lake Erie, General 
Proctor, with all his disposable force, consisting of regulars and 



Seige of Fort Meigs — Foi't Findlaij Attach d. 159 

Canadian militia from Maldon, and a large body of Indians under 
Teeuniseli, aniounling in the whole to two thousand men, made 
him a hostile visit, and laid siege to Fort Meigs. To encourage the 
Indians, he had promised them an easy concjueHt, and assured them 
that General Harrison should be delivered up to Tecumseh. On 
the 'JOth of April, the British columns appeared on the other bank 
of the river, and established their principal batteries on a command- 
ing eminence opposite Fort Meigs. On the ;27th the Indians crossed 
the river, and established themselves in the rear of the American 
lines. Ti»e garrison not having completed their wells, had no water 
except what they obtained from the river, under a constant firing 
from the enemy. 

At this point it may not be out of place to turn aside from the 
regular narrative and introduce the following characteristic letter of 
the gallant Major Oliver, which will exhibit the condition of attairs 
in the neighborhood : 

FOHT FlNDLAV, April 'iO, 1H13, 

To His Excellency Governor Meigs: 

Sir : \o\\ will observe the seal of the letter from His Excellency 
General Harrison, has been broken. This I did to take a coj)y and 
transmit Governor Shelby, pursuant to directions from General 
Harrison on that subject at the moment I was setting oft". 

General Harrison has not written you at such length as he would, 
could he have confidently calculated on my getting through safe. 

Yesterday the British let loose a part of their savage allies upon 
the fort from the opposite shore, whilst the former were c<^>ncerting 
plans below. Tliere is little doubt the enemy intends erecting bat- 
teries on the opjiosite shore. No force can reduce the fort. All 
are in fine spirits, anxiously waiting a shar«' of ilu' glory to be ac- 
quired over the British ami their sa\age allies; though one thin^ 
is certain, whilst their forces are so tar superior, they cannot be 
driven fron> their j)osition f>n the o]»posite shore. Captain Hamil- 
ton, who was detached with a «lisc(»vering party, estimated their 
forces at three thousand— indi'pendent <>f tlif Iinliaii^ lurking in the 
neighborhood. 

I am now in pursuit of General Clay, and i-xpict to come up with 
him to-day. 

Yesterday's mail had been opened before it arriveil at the rapids 
— from what cause to the General unknown; in consecjuence of 
which he directed that the earliest possible iiKjuiry be made to 



160 The First Seige of Fort Meigs Opened. 



ascertain the source ; that, if treason be on foot, it may be suppressed 
in the bud. 

You will be pleased to have all express mails stopped beyond 
Franklinton towards the rapids until General Harrison directs their 
resumption. 

With sentiments of highest respect, I have the honor to be, 
Your obedient servant, 

William Oliver. 



On the 1st, 2d and 3d of May, the British kept up an incessant 
shower of balls and shells upon the fort. On the night of the third 
the enemy erected a gun and mortar battery upon the left (or Mau- 
mee City bank) of the river, within two hundred and iifty yards of 
the American lines. The Indians climbed the trees in the neighbor- 
hood of the fort, and poured in a galling fire upon the garrison. In 
this situation. General Harrison received a summons from Proctor 
for a surrender of the garrison, greatly magnifying his means of 
annoyance. This was answered by a prompt refusal, assuring the 
British General that if he obtained possession of the fort, it would., 
not be by capitulation, and that the post would not be surrendered 
upon any terms ; that should it fall into his (General Proctor's) 
hands, it would be in a manner calculated to do him more honor, 
and give him higher claims upon the gratitude of his government, 
than any capitulation could possibly do. Anticipating, as before 
stated, this attack. General Harrison had made the Governors of 
Kentucky and' Ohio minutely acquainted with his situation, and 
stated to them the necessity of reinforcements for the relief of Fort 
Meigs. His requisitions had been zealously anticipated, and General 
Clay was at this moment descending the Maumee with twelve hun- 
dred Kentuckians, conveyed on flat boats for his relief 

At twelve o'clock in the night of the fourth, Captain William 
Oliver arrived from General Clay, Avith the welcome intelligence of 
his approach, stating that he was just above the rapids, and could 
reach him in two„ hours, and requesting his orders. Harrison at 
once determined upon a general sally, and directed Clay to land 
eight hundred men on the left bank, take possession of the British 
batteries and spike their cannon, immediately return to their boats 
and cress over to the American fort. The remainder of Clay's force 
were ordered to land on the right bank and fight their way to the 
fort, while sorties were to be made from the garrison in aid of these 



IJu ( iiforfniiiit, PiiiJli'i/. • 1('.1 



operations, ('i|it:iiii Ilamili-'ii was ordered to proercl up ilic river 
ill :i )iirii_rur, laml a sultaltci'ii I'm-cc <>ii the v\'j}\\ liaiik, wiio slioiild 
Ix.' :i pilot to ((iritlucl (icncral (May In tlw tort ; ami tlii-ii cross o\ir 
and station liis piromii' al tin- place dcsii^iiatrtl lor t lie other <livisioii 
to land. (Icneial Clay. Iiaviiii; received these insl ructions, descended 
the ri\er in order ot hattle, in s(did columns, each ofViccr takintj: 
position a«'conliny; to rank. 

Colonel Dudley, l>ein<i senior in command, led the van. and was 
ordered to take the men in th\j twelve front Itoats. and «'xeciite (tcii- 
oral Harrison's orders on tlie left hank. lie etfected his landinii; at 
the phu-e desi<;nated without difHculty. (Jrcneral Clay kept close 
alonj.^ the ri^ht hank until he came opposite the j)lace of Dudley's 
landing, hut not finding the subaltern there, he attempted to cross 
over and join Colonel Dudley ; Viut this was prevented by the 
violence of the current on the rapitls, and he again attempted to 
land on the right bank, and etiected it with only fifty men amid a 
brisk fire from the enemy on shore, and made his way to the fort, 
receiving their fire until witliin protection of its guns. The other 
boats, under command of Colonel Boswell, were driven further 
down the current, an<l landed on the lett to join Colonel Dudley. 
Here they were ordered to re-emitark, land on the right bank and 
proceed to the foit. 

In the meantime, two sorties were made from the garrison, one 
on the left in ai<l of Colonel Boswell, 1)y which the Canadian militia 
and Imlians were defeated, and he en.abled to reach the tort in safety ; 
and one on the right against the British batteries, which was also 
successful. The troops in this attack on the British battery were 
comm:iiided by Colonel John Miller, of the Nineteenth I'nited States 
Keginicnt, and consisted of about t wo liundre<l antl fifty of the Seven- 
teenth and Nineteenth llegimeiits, one hundred twelve month vol- 
unteers, ami Captain Seebres company of Kentucky militia. They 
were drawn up in a ravini' under the east curtain of the fort, out of 
reach of th(? enemy's fire ; but to approach the batteries it was ueces- 
sarv, after having ascended from the ravine, to pass a plain of two hun- 
dred vards in width, into the woods, beyond which were the batteries 
protected by a company of grenadiers and another of light infantry, 
upwards of two hundred strong. These troops were flanked on the 
right by two or three companies of Canadian militia, and on the 
left by a large 1)ody of Indians, under Tecumseh. Afl«'r passing 
along the ranks and encouraging the men to do their duty, th^; Geu- 

12 



162 • 2 he Siege of Fort Meigs. 

eral placed himself upon the battery of the rear right angle to wit- 
ness the contest. The troops advanced with loaded but trailed 
arms. They had scarcely reached the summit of the hill when they 
received the fire of the British infantry. It did them little harm; 
but the Indians being ])laced in position, and taking sight or aim, 
did great execution. They had not advanced more than fifty yards 
on the plain, before it became necessary to halt and close the ranks. 
This was done with as much order by word of command from tlie 
officers as if they had been on parade. The charge was then made, 
and the enemy fled with so much precipitation that although many 
were killed none were taken. The General, from his position on the 
battery, seeing the direction that part of them had taken, dispatched 
Major Todd with the reserve of about fifty regulars, who quickly 
returned with two officers and forty-three non-commissioned officers 
and i^rivates. In this action the volunteers and privates suffered 
less than the regulars, because, from their position, the latter were 
much sooner unmasked by the hill, and received the first fire of all 
the enemy. It was impossible that troops could have behaved better 
than they did upon this sortie. 

Colonel Dudley, on the left bank, with his detachment of eight 
hundred Kentucky militia, completely succeeded in driving the 
British from their batteries, and spiking their cannon. Having 
accomplished this object, his orders were peremptory to retui-n 
immediately to his boats and cross over to the fort; but the blind 
confidence which generally attends militia when successful, proved 
their ruin. Although repeatedly ordered by Colonel Dudley, and 
warned of their danger and called upon Irom the fort to leave the 
ground, and although there wa^ abundant time for that purpose 
before the British reinforcements arrived, yet they commenced a 
pursuit of the Indians, and suftered themselves to be drawn into 
an ambuscade by some feint skirmishing, while the British troops 
and large bodies of Indians were brought up, and intercepted their 
return to the river. Elated with their first success, they considered 
their victory as already gained, and pursued the enemy nearly two 
miles into the woods and swamps, where they were suddenly 
caught in a defile and surrounded by double their numbers. Find ■ 
iug themselves in this situation, consternation prevailed ; their line 
became broken and disordered, and huddled together in unresisting 
crowds, they were obliged to yield to the fury of (he savages. 
Fortunately for these unhappy victims of their own rashness, Gen. 



Miit/iKinimifi/ of Iccnni^^h . IT..". 

Tectirasch commanded n( this ambuscade, and Imd imbibed, sinec 
bis :i|>|)i)intii)ciit. imin- liiiin:im' fct'liiit^s tban bis brotbri- J'roctor. 
Attn- tbi' HiirrciiiU'r, .iiid :ill rcsistaiu't' bad <-«'ast'd, tlic Indians, find 
int; live luiiidit'd prisuni'is al. tiicir mercy, bej^an llu' work of massa- 
cie witli I lie most savat^e deligbt. Tecumseb sternly I'orltade it, 
and buried bis lomabawk in ibe bead of om- of bis ebiefs wbo 
refused oliedieniru. Tliis order aecompanied witb ibis decisive 
mannei- ol euforcin;^ il, |>ut an end to tlie massacre. Of eigbt 
bundred men, oidy one bundred and Hlly escaped. Tbe resiilue 
were shiin or made prisoners. Colonel Dudley was severely 
wounded in tbe action, and afterwards tniuabaw ked and sciilped. 

Proctor, seeing no prospect of taking tlie fort, and linding liis 
Indians fast leaving liim. raised tbe siege on tbe 9fb of May. and 
* returned witb precipitation to Maiden. Tecuraseb and a considera- 
ble portion of tbe Indians remained in service ; but large numbers 
left it in disgust, and were ready to join the Americans. On tbe 
rigbt bank, in tbe several sorties of the aih of May, and during tbe 
siege, the American loss was eighty-one killed and one hundred 
and eighty wounded. 

When tbe enemy rai.sed tbe siege, they gave a parting salute, 
which killed ten t)r twelve and wounded double that number. 
" However,'' says one who was present, '' we were glad enough to 
see them otl* on any terms. The next morning foun<l us something 
more tranquil. We could leave tbe ditches and walk about with 
something more of an aii' of Jreedom than we liad done for tbe last 
fourteen days; and here I wish I could present to the reader a 
picture ot tbe condition we b)und ourselves in, when the with- 
drawal of the enemy gave us time to look at each others' outward 
appearance. The scarcity of water had put the washing of our 
bands ami faces, mucli less our linen, out ol the question. Many 
bad scarcely any -olotbing left, antl that which they wore wjis so 
begrimmed and torn by our residence in the ditch, and other means, 
that we presented tbe appearance of so many scarecrows." 

Henry Howe, in bis Ohio Historical (Collections, (to whom we 
are chiefly indebted for the material relating to this and the second 
siege of Fort Meigs.; estimates the British lorce under Proctor, 
during the siege, at three tliousand two bundred men, of wlmni six 
bundred were British regulars, eiglit bumlred ( anadian militi.a. and 
one thousand eight hundred Indians. Those under H.arrison includ- 
ed the troops wlii> arrived on the morning of tbe .'»tb. under (General 



ir,4 



Fort Meig^ and its Enmronf<. 




Furl. Meigs and iff Environs. 



Explanations: — «, grand battery, commanded by Cai)taiu Daniel Ctishing ; 
h, mortar battery ; e, i, o, minor batteries; g, battery commanded at the second 
siege by Colonel (^ames ; c, magazines. The black squares on the lines of the 
fort represent the position of the block houses. The dotted lines show the 
traverses, or walls of earth thrown up. The longest, the grand traverse, had a 
base of twenty feet, was twelve in height, and about nine hundred in length. 
The traverses running lengthwise of the fort, were raised as a protection 
against the batteries on the opposite side ot the river, and those running cress- 
wise were to defend them from the British batteries on this side. The British 
batteries on the north side of the river were named as follows: a Queen's; b, 
Sailors' ; d, King's ; and c, Mortar. The fort stood upon high ground, on the 
margin of the bank, elevated about sixty feet above the Maumce. Tlie surface 
is nearly level, and is covered by a green sward. The outline of the fort is now 
well delined, and the grand traverse yet rises six or eight feet from the sur- 
rounding ground. 



lecnm^h and Proctw in Peril. Ifi5 



In an oxrursion of the veterans of the wnr of 1815-13, made to Fort Meigs, in 
Junr, 1870, Mayor Tyk'r, in his address of woicome to Ihc soldiers remarked, 
with rL';;!ird to the present comlition of this consecrated ground : 

" On to-morrow von will he escorted to the old tbrtilicalions ol Fort Meigs. 
There yon will tind its earthworks faithfully preserved, safe, only as far as the 
hand of time has marred its former war-irowninir front. No instrument of 
agriculture lias torn down or plowed up an\- part of the old Fort. Two of the 
original ])icket>, i)laced there in 1812. are there yet. Then you will find. 
marked hy stones long since placed over them, the graves of your fallen com- 
rades, there the trenches, there the magazine, there all the outlines of the 
ancient warfare. ^Ir. Michael Hayes and his hrothers. who own the soil of 
the old fort, have faithfully performe<l their duty in guarding this landmark of 
history from destruction or desolation. They have preserved many of the 
relics of the battle-field — grape-shot, canister, bayonets, and many other 
evidences of the conflict." 

The work originally covered about ten acres, but was reduced in area between 
the two seiges, to accommodate a smaller number of trooi>s. Just above, a 
large number of sunken graves indicate the locality of the soldiers' burying 
grounil. Tiie graves of Lieutenant Walker and Lieutenant ]\[cCullough — the 
last of whom was shot while conversing with General Harrison — are within the 
fort. The first is surmounted by a small stone, with an inscription — the last 
is enclosed by a fence. To utiderstand the position of Fort Meigs, with refer- 
ence to the British fort and surrounding country, see map in tlii< volume of the 
" Plan illustrating the battles of the Maumee." 

Below is an extract from an article on the siege of Fort Meigs, 
by Kev. A. M. Lorraine, originally published in the Ladies" Reposi- 
tory for March. 1845 : 

" One afternoon, as numbers were gathered together on the 
*' parade,'' two strangers, finely mounted, appeared on the western 
bank of the river, and seemed to be taking a very calm and deliberate 
survey of our work.*. It was a stranjre thing to see travellers in 
that wild country, and we commonly held such to be enemies, until 
they proved themselves to be friends. So one of our batteries was 
cleared forthwith, and the gr-ntlomen were saluted with a shot that 
tore up the earth about them, and put them to a hasty flight. If 
that ball had struck its mark, much bloodshed might have been pre- 
vented : for we learned subsef|Ui'ntly that our illustriotis vi.sitors 
were Proctor and Teeumsch. The garrison was immediately em- 
ployed in cutting deep traverses through the fort, taking down the 
tents and ])reparing for ti siege. The work accom|)lished in a few 
hotir.s, und'T the excitement of the occasion, was prodigious. The 
errand traverse being completed, each mess was ordered to e.xcAvate, 
under the f^mbankmeut, sttitable lodgings, as stibstitutes for our 
tents. Those rooms were shot ])roof and bomb proof, except in the 
event of a 8hell falling in the traverse and at the niotith of a rave. 



166 The Br null Erect Batteries on the Left Bank. 

" The above works were scarcely completed before it was discovered 
that the enemy, under cover of night, had constructed batteries on 
a commanding hill north of the river. There their artillery men 
were posted ; but the principal part of their army occupied the old 
English fort below. Their Indian allies appeared to have a roving 
commission, for they beset us on every side. The cannonading com- 
menced in good earnest on both sides. It was, however, more 
constant on the British side, because they had a more extensive mark 
to batter. We had nothing to fire at but their batteries, but they 
were coolly and deliberately attended to; and it was believed that 
more than one of their guns were dismounted during the siege. 
One of our militia men took his station on the embankment, and 
gratuitously forewarned us of every shot. In this he became so 
skillful, that he could, in almost every case, predict the destination 
of the ball. As soon as the smoke issued from the muzzle of the 
gun, he would cry out " shot," or " bomb," as the case might be. 
Sometimes he would exclaim, " Block-house No. l,'' or " Look out, 
main battery; '' " Now for the meat-house ; " " Good-by, if you will 
pass." In spite of all the expostulations of his friends, he main- 
tained his post. One day there came a shot that seemed to defy all 
his calculations. He stood silent — motionless — perplexed. In the 
same instant he was swept into eternity. Poor man I he should 
have considered, that when there was no obliquity in the issue of 
the smoke, either to the right or left, above or below, the fatal mes- 
senger would travel in the direct line of his vision. He reminded 
me of the peasant, in the siege of Jerusalem, who cried out, " Woe 
to the city! woe to myself I" On .the most active day of the 
investment, there were as many as five hundred cannon balls and 
bombs* thrown at our fort. Meantime, the Indians, climbing up 



* " A large number of cannon halls were thrown into the fort, from the batteries on the 
opposite side of the river. Being sliort of a supply, Harrison offered a gill of whisky for every 
cannon ball delivered to the magazine keeper, Mr. Thomas L. Hawkins, since resident of 
Fremont. Over 1,000 gills of whisky were thus earned by the soldiers. 

' ' For safety against bombs, each man had a hole dug under ground in rear of the grand 
traverse, which, being covered over with plank, and earth oa top, fully protected them. When 
the cry tomb was heard, the soldiers either threw themselves upon the ground, or ran to the 
holes for safety. A bomb is most destructive when it bursts in the air, ))ut it rarely explodes 
in that way : it usually falls with so much force as to penetrate the earth, and when it ex- 
plodes, Hies upward and in an angular direction, iu consequence of the pressure of the earth 
beneath and at its sides; consequently, a person lying on the ground is comparatively safe. 

"A heavy rain at last filled up the holes, rendering them uninhabitable, and the men were 
obliged to temporarily sleep in their tents. Then every once in a while, the startling cry, 
"bomb !" aroused them from their slumbers. Rushing from their tents, they watched the 
course of the fiery messenger of death, as it winged its way through the midnight sky, aad if 



Fort Mdifx Narroivhf Escapes Destn^^tum. 1(;7 



into the trees, fired lnces.siiiilly mtnii ns. Smli was their disUince, 
tliiil miiiiy of thi'ir Italls Iniroly reached iis, and IMI haniilrss to tlu- 
gritmid. ()cc;isinu:illy they itiflioLed dani^eroiis and even fatal 
wonnds. 'I'hi' nninUer killeil in the fort was small, considerini; tin.- 
prolusion of jiowder iind ball expended on us. About 80 were slain, 
many wounded, and several had to suffer the amputation of limbs. 
The most dangerous duty which we performed within the precincts 
of the fort, was in covering the magazine. Previous to this, the 
powder had been deposited in wagons, and these stationed in the 
traverse. Here there was no security against bombs; it was there- 
fore thought to be prudent to remove the powder into a small block- 
house, and cover it with earth. The enemy, judging our designs 
from our movements, now directed all their sliot to this point. 
Many of their balls were red-hot. Wherever they struck, they raised 
a cloud of smoke, and made a frightful hissing. An oflScer, passing 
our quarters, said, " Boys, who will volunteer to cover the magazine ?" 
Fool-like, away several of us went. As soon as we reached the spot, 
there came a ball and took off one man's head. The sp.wles and 
dirt flew fjtster than any of us had before witnessed. In the midst 
of our job. a bombshell fell on the roof, and lodging o\\ one of the 
braces it s})un round for a moment. Every soldier fidl flat on his 
face, and with breathless horror awaited the vast explosion which 
we expected would crown all our earthly sufferings. Only one of 
dl the gang presumed to reason on the case. He silently argued 
that, as the shell had not bursted as ([uickly as usual, there might be 
something wrong in its arrangement. If it bursted where it was, 
and the magazine exploded, there could be no escape: it was death 
anyhow; so he sprung to his feet, seized a boat-hook, and pulling 
the hissing missile to the ground, and jerking the smoking match 
from it^ socket, discovered that the shell was filled with inlhimmable 
matter, which, if once igniteil, would have wra[)pi'd the whole 
building in a sheet of flame. This circumstance added wings to our 
shovels, and we were right glad when the officer said, ' That will 
do; go to your lines."' 

The following particulars of the defeat of Colonel Dudley, were 
published in a public print many years since, by Joseph R. Uuder- 

it MI near, fell flat iiimjii thc^rnmnd ; othcrwNo. rftiirn to their teiitn. only to be aroused attain 
.-tnd apilu by the Htarllint; cry. So harnisninu' was* ihif. *o acriii<t4>tue«l had tin- men become to 
the danj^er. and -to ovcrpowerin'.; the dofire for -leep, that many of the lioldier* remalnwl in 
their tent? locked In the embrace of nleop, determined, an one said, not to be dinturhed in their 
vluinbcni ' if ten thoa^«ud bombri burnt all around thera." " — U. How*. * 



168 Movements of General Clay's Brigade. 

wood, who was present on the occasion, in the capacity of lieutenant 
in a volunteer company of Kentuckians, commanded by Captain 
John C. Morrison. 

" After a fatiguing march of more than a month, General Clay's 
brigade found itself, on the night of the 4th of May, on board of 
open boats, lashed to the left bank of the Miami of the Lakes, near the 
head of the rapids, and within hearing of the cannon at Fort Meigs, 
which was then besieged by the British and Indians. Very early on 
the morning of the 5th, we set off, and soon began to pass the 
rapids. We were hailed by a man from the right bank, who proved 
to be Captain Hamilton, of the Ohio troops, with orders from Gen. 
Harrison, then commanding at the fort. He was taken to the boat 
of General Clay, and from that to Colonel Dudley's, this last being 
in advance of the whole line. Captain Morrison's company occupied 
the boat in which the Colonel descended. It being a damp, 
unpleasant morning, I was lying in the stern, wrapped in my blanket, 
not having entirely recovered from a severe attack of the measles. 
I learned that we were to land on the left bank, storm the British 
batteries erected for the purpose of annoying the fort ; but what 
further orders were given, I did not ascertain. Hearing that we 
were certainly to fight, I began to look upon all surrounding objects 
as things which to me might soon disappear forever, and my mind 
reverted to my friends at home, to bid them a linal farewell. These 
reflections produced a calm melancholy, but nothing like trepidation 
or alarm. My reveries were dissipated by the landing of the boat, 
about a mile or two above the point of attack. Shortly before we 
landed, we were fired upon by some Indians from the right bank of 
the river, and I understood that Captain Clarke was wounded in the 
head. The fire was returned from on i" boats, and the Indians fled, 
as if to give intelligence of our ajjjjroach. Captain Price and 
Lieutenant Sanders, of the regular army, landed with us and partook 
in the engagement, having under command a few regular soldiers, 
but I think not a full company. The whole number of troops that 
landed amounted probably to 700 men. We were formed on the shore 
in three parallel lines, and ordered to march for the Ijattery at right 
angles with the river ; and so far as I understood the plan of attack, 
one line was to form the line of battle in the rear of the battery, 
parallel with the river ; the other two lines to form one above and 
one below the battery, at right angles to the river. The lines thus 
formed were ordered to advance, and did so, making as iittle noise 



Dudley' s ConimaTKJ Pi/rxue tloe Indicms. 1(;0 



as possible — the ohjprt boinp to surprise the enemy af their Vtatterv. 
Before we reached the battery, liowever, we were diseovered by soine 
straggling Indians, wlin lirnl upon us and tlicn retreated. Ournjen, 
pleiwsed at seeing them run, and [x-reeiving tliat we were discovered, 
no lonfrer deemed silence necessary, and raised a lremen<lous shout. 
This was the tirst intimation that the enemy received of our 
approach, and it so alarmed them that they abandoned the battery 
without making any resistance. In effectuating the plan of attack, 
Captain J. C. Morrison's company were thrown upon the river, above 
the battery. While passing through a thicket of hazel, toward the 
river, in forming tiie line of battle, 1 saw Colonel Dudley for the 
last time. He was greatly excited ; lie railed at me for not keeping 
my men better dressed. I replied, that he must perceive from the 
situation of the ground, and the obstacles that we had to encounter, 
that it was impossible. When we came within a small distance of 
the river, we halted. The enemy at this place had g(jtten in the rear 
of our line, formed parallel with the river, and were tiring upon our 
troops. Captain J. C. Morrison's company did not long remain in 
this situation. Having nothing to do. and being without orders, we 
determined to march our company out and join the combatants. 
We did so accordingly. In passing out. we fell upon the left of the 
whole regiment, and were soon engaj^ed in a severe conlliet. The 
Indians endeavored to Hank and surround us. We drove them be- 
tween one and two miles, tlirectly back from the river. They hid 
behind trees and logs, and j)oured upon us, as we advanced, a most 
destructive fire. W^e wen; from time to lime ordered to charge. The 
orders were passed along the lines, oup field oflicers being on foot. 

Shortly after this, (japtain J. ('. .Morrison was shot 

through the temples. 'JMie l>all passing In-hind th'- eves and cutting 

tiie optic nerve, depriveil him of his sight Having 

made the best arrangement for the safety of my much esteemed 
('aptain that circumstances allowed. I to<>k charge of the c<im)>any 
and continued the battle. We made several charges afterwards, and 

drove the enemy a eonsitlerable distanc" \t leii.:ih 

orders were passed along the line directing us to fall l»ai'k autl keep 
up a retre;iting tire. As soon as this movement w:i^ made, the 
Indians were greatly en(-ouraged, and advanced upon us with the 
most horrid yells. Once (jr twice the otHcers succeeded in producing 
a temporary halt and a tire on the Indians; but the soldi»-rs of the 
diflerent companies soon became mixed — confusion ensued — and a 



170 Dudley's Com.mand Slain or Prisoners. 

general rout took place. The retreating army made its way towards 
the batteries, where I supposed we should be able to form and repel 
the pursuing Indians. They were now so close in the rear, as to fre- 
quently shoot down those who were before me. About this time I 
n'ceived a ball in my back, which yet remains in my body. It struck 
nie with a stunning, deadening force, and I fell on my hands and 
knees. I rose and threw ray waistcoat open to see whether it had 
passed through me ; finding it had not, I ran on, and had not pro- 
ceeded more than a hundred or two yards before I was made prisoner. 
In emerging from the woods into an open piece of ground, near the 
battery we had taken, and before I knew what had happened, a 
soldier seized my sword and said to me, " Sir! you are my jirisoner !'' 
I looked before me and saw, with astonishment, the ground covered 
with muskets. The soldier, observing my astonishment, said : 
"Your army has surrendered,'' and received ray sword. He ordered 
me to go forward and join the prisoners. I did so. The first man 
I met whom I recognized, was Daniel Smith, of our company. With 
eyes full of tears, he exclairaed, " Good Lord, Lieutenant, what does 
all this mean ? " I told him we were prisoners of war. . . . 

"'' On our march to the garrison, the Indians began to strip us of 
our valuable clothing and other articles. One took my hat, another 
my hunting shirt, and a thii'd my waistcoat, so that I was soon left 
with nothing but my shirt and pantaloons. I saved my watch by 
concealing the chain, and it proved of great service to me afterwards. 
Having read, when a boy, Smith's narrative of his residence among 
the Indians, ray idea of their character was that they treated those 
best who appeared the most fearless. Under this impression, as we 
marched down to the old garrison, I looked at those whom we met 
with all the sternness of countenance 1 could command. I soon 
caught the eye of a stout warrior painted red. He gazed at me with 
as much sternness as I did at him, until I came within striking 
distance, when he gave me a severe blow over the nose and cheek- 
bone with his wiping stick. I abandoned the notion acquired from 
Smith, and went on afterwards with as little display of hauteur and 
defiance as possible. 

'• On our approach to the old garrison, the Indians formed a line 
to the left of the road, there being a perpendicular bank to the 
right, on the margin of which the road passed. I perceived that the 
prisoners were running the gauntlet, and that the Indians were 
whi})ping, shooting and tomahawking the men as they ran by their 



Thf Prisonei'fi Rmi Ok (raimfUt. 171 

liiif. Wlu'ii 1 ivaclicd the sUrtinj]^ plaro, T daslu'd off as fast as I was 
;ilil< . and ran near the mnzzk's <»f tlioir ^uns. kiio\viii<T that th^-v 
udiiM liavf to shoot nif whilf I was iimiifcliati'ly in fntnt, or k'l nic 
pass, lor to havf turin-d their <,nins n|» or down the lines to shoot rue, 
wonid have cndaiiireri'il thcniscivL'S, as there was a cnrve in their line. 
In this way I passed without injury except some strokes over the 
shouhk'rs with tlieir gun -sticks. As I entered the ditch around the 
•garrison, the man hefore me was shot and fell, and I fell over liim. 
The passage for a while was stopped by those who fell over the dead 
man and myself. How many lives were lost at this ]>lace I cannot 
tell — probably between twenty and forty. The brave Captain TiCwis 
was among the number. When we got within the walls we were 
ordered to sit down. I lay in the hip of Mr. Gilpin, a soldier of 
Captain Henry's company, from Woodford. A new scene com- 
ini'nced. An Indian, painted black, mounted the dilapidated wall, 
and shot one of the jirisoners next to him. He re-loaded and shot 
a second, the ball passing through him into the hip of another, who 
afterwards died, I was informed, at Cleveland, of the wound. The 
savage then lay down his gun and drew his tomahawk, with which 
lie killed two others. When he drew his tomahawk ami Jumped 
down among the men, they endeavored to escape from him bv 
leaping over the heads of each other, and thereby to place others 
l)etween themselves and danger. Thus they were heaped upon one 
another, and as I did not rise, t^iey trampled upon me so that I 
could see nothing that wjis going on. The confusion and uproar at 
tliis moment cannot be adecpiately desi-ribed. There was an excite- 
ment among the Indians, and a fierceness in their conversation, 
which betokened on the part of some a strong disposition to mas- 
sacre the whole of us. The British officers and soldiers seemed to 
interpose to prevent the further effusion of ltlo(»d. TJieir I'Xpression 
was — " OA, nichee, wa/i ."' meaning, "Oh I brother, (|uitl" After 
the Indian who had (»ccasioned this horrible scene, iia<l scalped and 
stri|)|)ed his victims, he left us. and a comparative calm ensued. The 
piisoners resumed their seats on the ground. While thus situated, 
a tall, stout Indian walked into fh'- midst of us, drew a long butcher- 
knife from his belt and commenced whetting it. As he did s(», he 
looked around among the prisoners, apparentlv selecting one for the 
gratification of his vengeaiice. I viewed his conduct, and thought 
it probaltle that he was to give the signal for a general massacre' 



1Y2 Elliott and TecumseJi. 

But after exciting our fears sufficiently for his satisfaction, he gave 
a contemptuous grunt and went out from among us. 

" About this time, but whether before or after, I do not distinctly 
recollect, Colonel Elliott and Tecumseh, the celebrated Indian chief, 
rode into the garrison. When Elliott came to where Thos. Moore, 
of Clark county, stood, the latter addressed him, and inquired " if 
it was compatible with the honor of a civilized nation, such as the 
British claimed to be, to sufter defenseless prisoners to be murdered 
by savages ? " Elliott desired to know who he was. Moore replied 
that he was nothing but a private in Captain Morrison's company — 

and here the conversation ended Elliott w^ as an old 

man ; his hair might have been termed, with more propriety, white 
than gray, and to my view he had more of the savage in his 
countenance than Tecumseh. This celebrated chief was a noble, 
dignified personage. He wore an elegant broadsword, and was 
dressed in the Indian costume. His face was finely proportioned, 
his nose inclined to the aquiline, and his eye displayed none of that 
sage and ferocious triumph common to the other Indians on that 
occasion. He seemed to regard us with unmoved composure, 
and I thought a beam of mercy shone in his countenance, temperhig 
the spirit of vengeance mherent in his race against the American 
people. I saw him only on horseback. 

'' Shortly after the massacre in the old garrison, I was the object 
of a generous act. A soldier, with whom I had no acquaintance, 
feeling compassion for my situation, stripped off my clothes, muddy 
and bleeding, and ottered me his hunting shirt, which the Indians 
had not taken from him. At first I declined receiving it, but he 
pressed it upon me with an earnestness that indicated great magna- 
nimity. I inquired his name and residence. He said that his name 
was James Boston, and that he lived in Clarke county, and belonged 
to Captain Clarke's company. I have never since seen him, and 
regret that I should never be able to recall his features, if I were 
to see him. 

" Upon the arrival of Elliott and Tecumseh, we were directed to 
stand up and foi m in lines, I think four deep, in orderto be counted. 
After we w^ere thus arranged, a scene transpired scarcely less affect- 
ing than that wliich I have before attempted faintly to describe. 
The Indians began to select the young men whom they intended to 
take with them to their towns. Numbers were carx'ied ott. I saw 
Corporal Smith, of our company, bidding farewell to his friends, 



77/(? lirltisji SJnppiTig at Mouth of Siva a Creek. 1 T' 



aiitl j)i.»iiitiii<^ lo thf liiiluiu with whom lit' was to go. I nevi»r heanl 
of his return. The young men, learning their danger, endeavoreil 
to avoid it by crowding into the centre, where they couhl not he so 
readily reached. 1 was told that a (jui/.zical youtli, of diminutive 
size, near the outside, seeing what was going on, threw himscll' 
iijion his hands and knees, and rusheil through the legs (»f liis com- 
rades, exclaiming, ' Root, little hog. or die!' .Such is the impulse 
ol" sell-preservation, and such the levity with which men inured to 
danger will regard it. An Indian came up to me and ga\ e me a 
piece ot'me.il. 1 took this for proof that he intended carrying me oil 
with him. Thinking it the hest policy to act with conlidence, I 
made a sign to him to give me his butcher knife — which he diil. 1 
divided the meat with those who stood near me. reserving ;i sm:ill 
piece for mysell -more as :i show of politeness to the savage, than 
to gratify any apetite I had lor it. After I had eaten it and relurne(l 
Hie knife, he tui'iied and left me. When it was near night, we were 
i.iken in open boats about nine miles down the river, [near the 
mouth of Swan creek, J to the British shipping. On the day after, 
we were visite<l by the Indians in their bark canoes, in order to 
make a display of their scalps. These they strung on a pole, 
perhaps two inches in diameter, and about eight feet high. The 
pole was set up perpendicularly in the bow of their canoes, and 
near the top the scalps were fastened. On some poles I saw four 
or five. Each scalp w:is drawn closely over a hoop about four 
inches in <liameter ; and the flesh sides. T thought, were painted red. 
Thus their canoes were decorated with a flag-staff of a most a]>pro- 
pri.ate character, bearing human .scalps, the horrid ensigns of savage 
warfare. We remained six days on board the vessel — those of us. 
I mean, who were sick .an<l wounded. The Avhole of us were 
discharged on parole. The officers signed an iuBtrument in writ- 
ing, pledging their honors not to serve against the King of Ureal 
Britain and his allies during the war, tmless regularly exchanged. 
It was inquired whether the Indians were included in the term 
' allies.' Tlie only answer was ' that his Majesty's allies were 
known.' The wounded and sick were taken in a vessel commamled 
by ("aptain Stewart, at the mouth, I think of Vermillion river, and 
there put on shore. I afterwards met Captain Moore, a prisoner of 
warjat Frankfort. Kentucky, together with a midshipman, wlio 
play«'d Yankee Doodle on a flute, by way of derision, when in- wvw 
first taken on board his vessel. Such is the fortune of war. They 



174 Second Siege of Fort Meigs. 

were captured by Commodore Perry, in the battle of Lake Erie. 
I visited Captain Stewart to requite his kindness to me when, like 
him, I was a prisoner." 

General Hail-isou having repaired the fort from the damage occa- 
sioned by the siege, left for the interior of the State, to organize 
new levies, and entrusted the command to General Green Clay- 
The enemy returned to Maiden, where the Canadian militia were 
disbanded. Shortly after commenced the second siege of Fort 
Meigs. 

On the 20th of July, the boats of the enemy were discovered 
ascending the Maumee to Fort Meigs, and the following morning 
a party of ten men were surprised by the Indians, and only three 
escaped death or capture. The force which the enemy had now 
before the post, was five thousand men under Proctor and Tecum- 
seh, and the number of Indians was greater than any ever before 
assembled on any occasion during the war, while the defenders of 
the fort amounted to but a few hundred. 

The night of their arrival, General Clay dispatched Captain 
McCune, of the Ohio militia, to General Harrison, at Lower San- 
dusky, to notify him of the presence of the enemy. Captain 
McCune was ordered to return and inform General Clay to be 
particularly cautious against surprise, and that every effort would 
be made to relieve the fort. 

It was General Harrison's intention, should the enemy lay regular 
siege to the fort, to select four hundred men, and by an unfrequeted 
route reach there in the night, and at any hazard break through the 
lines of the enemy. The subjoined letter conveys its own explana- 
tion : 



Headquarters, Lower Sandusky, ) 
July 22d, 1813 S 

Dear Sir : — The enemy have again attacked Fort Meigs. They 
commenced their operations against it yesterday. Come on as soon 
as possible, and bring with you all the troops you can collect. 
Write to the Governor, and get him to turn out as many militia as 
possible. My force will not be sufficient for anything but defensive 
operations, unless I get a large reinforcement of militia. 

Yours, Wm. Henry Harrison. 

Brigadier General McAi-thur. 



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170 Defiance Threatened. 

Captain McCune was sent out a second time, with the intelligence 
to Harrison, that about eight hundred Indians had been seen 
from the fort, passing up the Maumee, designing, it was supposed, 
to attack Fort Winchester, at Defiance. The General, however, 
believed tliat it was a ruse of the enemy to cover their design upon 
Upper Sandusky, Lower Sandusky, or Cleveland ; and accordingly 
kept out a reconnoitering pai'ty to watch. 

On the afternoon of the 25th, Captain McUune was ordered by 
Harrison to return to the fort and inform Greneral Clay of his situa- 
tion and intentions. He arrived near the fort about day break on 
the loUowing morning, having lost his way in the night, accom- 
panied by James Doolan, a French Canadian. They were jusA upon 
the point of leaving the forest and entering upon the cleared ground 
around the fort, when they were intercepted by a party of Indians. 
They immediately took to the high bank with their horses, and 
retreated at full gallop up the river for several miles, pursued by 
the Indians, also mounted, until they came to a deep ravine, putting 
u[) from the river in a southerly direction, when they turned upon 
the river bottom and continued a short distance, until they found 
their further progress in that direction stopped by an impassable 
swamp. The Indians, foreseeing their dilemma, from their know- 
ledge of the country, and expecting they would naturally follow up 
the ravine, galloped thither to head them off. McCune guessed 
their intention, and he and his companion turned back upon their 
own track for the fort, gaining, by this maneuvre, several hun 
di-ed yards upon their pursuers. The Indians gave a yell of 
chagrin, and followed at their utmost speed. Just as they neared 
the fort, McCune dashed into a thicket across his course, on the 
opposite side of which other Indians had huddled, awaiting their 
prey. When this body of Indians had thought them all but in their 
possession, again was the presence of mind of McCune signally 
displayed. He wheeled his horse, followed by Doolan, made his 
way out ol the thicket by the passage he had entered, and galloped 
around into the open space between them and the river, where the 
pursuers were checked by the fire from the block-house at the west- 
ern angle of the fort. In a few minutes after their arrival their 
horses dropped from fatigue. The Indians probably had orders to 
take them alive, as they had not fired until just as they entered the 
fort ; but in the chase McCune had great difficulty in persuading 



Fort Meiijs saved f Til III a (iveat Peril. 177 

Oool.in to rosiTve liis lire until the lawt ovtromity, ami tin v iln ro 
lore broui^lit in tlicir pieces lo:i«lc<l. 

Tlio ()|»[>(>rlune arrival ot McCiinc. no <loul)t, savcil tin- toil, a- llic 
intelligence lie brought was the means of preserving lliein from an 
ingeniously ilevised stratagem ot" Tecumseh. whidi was put into 
execution that day, and which we here relate. 

Towards evening, the British infantry were secreted in the ra\ inc 
lielow the tort, and the cavalry in tlic woods ahove, wliilc the 
Inilians were stationed in the Ibrest, on the Sandusky road, not fai' 
from the foit. About an hour before dark, they commenced a sham 
battle among themselves, to deceive the Americans into tlie belief 
that a battle was going on between them and a reinforcement for 
the fort, in the hopes of enticing the garrison to the aid of their 
comrades. It was managed with so much skill, that the garrison 
instantly flew to arms, impressed by the Indian yells, intermingled 
with the roar of musketry, that a severe battle was being fought. 
The officers, even of the highest grades, were of that opinion, and 
some of them insisted on being suti'erctl to march <iut to the rescue. 
General Clay, although unable to account for the tiring, could not 
believe that the General had so soon altered his intention, as 
expressed to Captain McCune, not to send or come with any troops 
to Fort Meigs, until tliere should appear further necessity for it. 
This intelligence in a great measure satisfieil the officers, but not 
the men, who were extremely indignant at being prevented from 
going lo share the danger of their Commander-in-Chief and brother 
soldiers ; and pirhaps hail it not been for the interposition of a 
shower of rain, which soon put an end to the battle, the General 
might have been persuaded to march out. when a terrible massacre 
of the troops would have ensued. 

The enemy remained aroimd the fort but one day after this, and 
on the iJMtlj embarked with their stores and proceeded down the 
lake. A volunteer aid of General Clay makes the statement thai 
jireparations were made to tire the magazine, in cjiee the enemy 
succee<li'd in an attempt to storm the fort, and thus involve all. 
friend anil loe, in one common fate. This terribli- alternative was 
deemed better than to perish under the toniahawks and s{;alpin j: 
knives of the savages. 

|<}ENKUAI, OKDKlt.''. I 

ilKAI>t^LAUrKKS, LoWKR SANPrSKV, ) 

1 till May. 1HI3. ) 

The truu}is whith n->w t'urnj the garrison of Lower Satiduskv, will 

13 



178 \Affairs at Longer Sail dusky. 



be relieved to-day by a detacbnicnt fiiniislied by his Excellency 
General Meigs, to the senior officer of M'hich Colonel Stevenson Avill 
deliver the post, and the public property in his jiossession. 

The militia belonging to General Wadsworths division, now at 
this place, will, as soon as relieved, conuiience their march i'or 
(Cleveland, where they will remain for the protection of that town. 

Colonel Stevenson will furnish the senior officer of this detach 
meut with a copy of this order, and the Quartermaster here will 
provide the means of a transport for them. By order 

R. Graham, Aid-de'Ckmij). 



FoiiT Stephenson", May 2-2, 1<S]:]. 
May it Please Your Excellency : 

Sir : Agreeably to your orders, sent by Mr. Bishop, I have for- 
warded all the articles specified therein. The carriages on which 
they are to be mounted, have not yet arrived, but are daily expected, 
as teams have l^een sent from this ])lace under an escort from the 
garrison. If you deem it necessary that one of the carriages should 
be forwarded on to Cleveland, the same will be done on your order. 

Considei'able manual labor has been done to the garrison since 
you left this, and improvements are daily making. 

The troops in general in the garrison are afflicted with bad colds. 
No epidemic or contagious disorder prevails. One person has been 
buried since you left this. He came from Fort Meigs with part o)' 
the baggage of Major Todd. No news, or any apprehension of 
danger. By order of the Major commanding. 

K. E. Post, Ad Jul ant. 

II. J. Meigs, Esq., 

Liovernor State of Ohio. 



[general orders.] 

Headqitarter.s, Cleveland, ( 
May22, 18i:i. S 

The Governor of Ohio finds that the safety of the frontier of tlie 
State requires capacity, discretion and vigilance in the officers com- 
manding at the different garrisons. Major Harper, now commanding 
at liower Sandusky, will surrender the command of that garrison 
to Captain Vance. 

Captain Vance will immediately repair to Lower Sandusky, and 
assume command of that garrison. He will exercise all his faculties 
in establishing order among the troops. Such repairs as he may 
think necessary for the security and convenience of his command, 
he will cause to be raa'le. 

Captain Vance will discharge two Captains and two Jjieutenants, 
and comform as nearly as possible to the War Office Regulations of 
March l9, 1813. R. J. Meigs. 

Governor of Ohio. 



Camp Life at Fort Mri</s. 17!) 



'IMip followinsjj extra<'t,s from "Sjiimit'l Uayh-s.s' Book f»f Gr'ncrjil 

( )ri|(is.' will t'\liil»il tlic iii;iiiiiri- in wliic.li. lollowiui; tlu? sin^«', t In- 
It'diiiiii ot the caiiiii \v:is relicvcil. Tin- ori^iiiiil in:mtiscri(>t is in I In* 
liamls ut Mis. Tliiinipson. wife of the SliL-iill' of Fr:inklin rount \ , 
(Hiio, l(t \\linin the writer wouM expri-ss liis oldi^ations for its use : 

I UKCilMICN r.VI, ( (>l KT M Alt! I M,. ] 

Cami" Mi:i(is, May i:.. Is|;:. 
The Uniti'il States vs. Sttmuel Stewart: 

(\ij)tain Patrick Sliaw, Captain Natliaii Il.ittii-ld, Cajitain riif<.|ilii- 
his Simontoii a|»}»i'aml as nionilxMs of said conrl martial and were 
sworn. 

Adjutant Samuel Bayless, aclint; .lude;*; Advueatc, was sworn. 

( liarge laitl in Ity Major Anthony I'it/.-r, for )>uttin<; liro to a 
liombslicll containing powiK-r. I'iie cliar<^e l»eing read to tlieilclcnd 
ant Wythe .ludge Advocate, anil the question do you [dead s^uilty or 
not guilty put, he aii.swei.s not guilty. 

Testimony on l)ehalf ot the United Slates : Alexander Tucker 
sworn, deposeth and saitli that he thought Stewart was the man 
that did tiie crime, but diil not see him set lire to the bombshell, and 
further saith not. 

Testimony on behall ol the defendant : .1. Hoggs, sworn. de|iosutli 
and saith that tor ten hours previous to the rej)ort of the bombshell 
on the I Uh inst., and lor some two after, said Stewart was wrtting 
on a drumhead in the tent with the deponent, and was not out ol 
the tent, ami further saith not 

Testimony continued on behalf of delendant : K. Sprig, sworn, 
deposeth and saith that he stood by when tire was set to the bomb- 
shell, and that said Stewart was not the man who set fire thereoi, 
and further saith not. 

Testimony cdoscd : The court martial, after seeing tlie charges and 
hearing the testimony against an<l lor the said Stewart, do adjudgi- 
that Samuel Stewart is not guilty. Given under my hand this |.">ih 
of May, isl:J. Patrick Sii.vw, I'rcsiddtl. 

Attest: Samuel Bayless, .1 ndije Advocate. 

Approved: James Mills, 

Cnhmel First /i\yiiiioiU Tturd /Je/>f. Oltio Mil ilia. 



I UB<iI.Me.\TAL. OIIDKK. | 

C.VMi' Mi:i<;-, .May -Jl, I">1:;. 
Samuel IJayless, Adjutant : 

You are commauiled to summon a regimental court martial tor 
the trial of James Kelley, Corpoial in Captain Simontons company. 

J.v.Mi> Mii,i.s, Colonel. 

Agreeable to the above order the lollowing officers were sum- 
moned and appeared ,ind took their seats 



180 Cami^ Life at Fort Meigs. 



Major J. Loduick, Captnin P. Shane, Captain N. Hatfield, sworn. 

Samuel Bayless, Acting Judge Advocate, sworn. 

C!liarge laid against said Kelley 1»y William Oliver, Assistant 
Commissary, with having suftered public whisky to be used from Ihc 
barrel under his charge on the night of the 2'2d inst. 

Testimony on behalf of the State : J. Davis, sworn, deposeth and 
saith that on the morning of the 23d the barrel, which we drew 
whisky from, had had whisky drawn from it during the night, the 
spigot being a1)OUt an inch and a half further out than when left, 
and the bung ajipeared to have been out. 

(Question — Was there more whisky in the barrel at night tlian in 
the morning '■! He believed there was, and further saitli not. 

The court martial, after seeing the charges and hearing the testi- 
mony against said Kelley, do adjudge that said James Kelley, Cor- 
poral, was not guilty. 

Given under my hand this 24th of ^[ay, 1813. 

John Loduick, PresidcnI. 

Attest: Samuel Bayless, Acfiiuj Judcjc Advocate. 

Approved : James Mills, 

Colonel Fifttt Regiment Ttiird Dvpt. 0. M. 



The commandants of the different corps at this place will mak( 
out and deliver to Major Pondell, Acting Adjutant General, com 



[garrison order.] 

Camp Meigs, May 24, isi.'l. 

:e 
)m- 
plete returns of their respective commands on the 5th day of June 
ensuing, for the month of May, instant. 

Fighting is especially forbidden after this date unless aathorized. 
Every soldier shall be entitled to one gill ot whisky for every 
cannon ball or bomb he may find and deliver to Captain Cushing or 
Lieutenant Hawkins. John Miller. 

Cotonel Nineteenth llegintent Inft. Comnuuidant. 



[regimental court martial.] 

Camp Meigs, June 4, 1813. 
United tStates of America vs. Enocli (JaUovuii/ : 

Captains Patrick Shaw, Nathan Holfield and Robert Irwin were 
summoned, and appeared at two o'clock and sworn. 

Adjutant Samuel Bayless was sworn Judge Advocate. 

The charge with abusing and threatening his First Sergeant was 
read, and the question asked, guilty or not guilty. Answer, guilty 
and ask mercy of court. 

Evidence — John Haines, sworn, deposeth and saith that before 
that time said Galloway had uniformly done his duty when able, 
and never given any abusive language. 

The court martial, after hearing the prisoner's confession and the 
testimony of John Haines, do adjudge that the said Galloway may 



Ciimjt L!l( lit Foi-f Mr'nfs. 181 



ret 111 II I" Ills company, and parjidc with the ireneral fhtifjnc on tin- 
.")lh aii'l ()ili iiist., ;m«l <lo lh:it <liity tiiitlil'ully tlicso two <l:iyM. 

Patiuck Shwv, I'nsidcnt. 
AttKl : Saiiiiu'l IJ.-iyless, .///'A/*' A(ivn(ti/c. 
.\|'|>r-i\e'il : Juinrfl Mills, 

( •i,l,n,rl Firsf h'rffinirii/ Tliinl Die. O. M. 

[(iENEUAI. 01U)KU.| 

HKADqUARTKRS FUA \ K M .NTO.V, } 

June i;;, 1^1.;. ^ 

Thf commaiiiiiiii^ (-J-eneral, witli '^vq^-a\ salist;u'tion, ((mimiinicatos 
til*' followin;^ i'xtr;ict from a letter of the Iioiioralde Secrelarv i)f 
War, vi/.. : ' 

'•The President has l»een pleaseil to ilireet that I sIionM coninni- 
nieate to you, aiul throu<^h you to the troops coiiipo^jiiiL!; tlie Lrarrisuti 
of Fort Mvi;4s, his thanks for tlic valor ami patriotism tlity <lispl;iyeil 
in the defense of that post. And partieularly to the different corps 
employed in sorties made on the .")th ol" May." 

The Ueneral is persuaded that the Ljallant troops which scrve<l at 
Fort .Melius will duly appreciate the .approbation of the Chief Ma^i>i- 
trale of their eoiuitry, and that it will prove a stimulus to fiituro 
e.xertion. 

Robert Bi tli:r, 
Captain 'Z\th Iky. luff., A. A. A. <i. for Z. litiley. 



I KKC.IMENTVI- CofKT .MAKTIAI.. | 

Fort Mki<;s, June JO. is]:!. 

1 lierowith commit Thomas Gregory, wlio ischarixe<l with almsiuLT 
and thrcateniiv^ me as First Serjeant of Captain Ilainilton's com- 
pany. John' Hainks, /'//-x/ Senioinl. 

C'aptains Shane and Iloltield. an<l Knsis^n McMaken, sworn. 

Samuel liayless, .lutli^o .\dvocate, sworn. 

(Question — Do you plead i^uilty or not guilty ":' .\nswer — \ot 
guilty. 

Adam .Stonehrakt-r, sworn, dcposcth and saitli that the c\cning 
saiil Gregory was sent to provost giiai<l, he said he would threaten 
and ahusc said Haines until he sent him to the provost guard, and 
further saith not. 

Kohert Jordon. sworn, deposeth and saith that he did n<U hear 
paid (Gregory threaten or aluise sai<l Sergeant Ilaincs on the ''(Jth of 
June, antl furtlu-r saith not. On heing re-summoni'l. saith that 
liefore ih.af time said Gregory iiad tlireatened said H.aines, and 
shook his fist at him. and sai<l that he would Itreak hiscalihage head. 

Tiie court martial, after seeing the charge and hearing the tcsti- 
iiit>ny, do ;id)udue th.at the said Tlu»mas (tregftry w:is guilty of the 
(ii.irge a-^ainst him, and we do sentence him to .■icknowledge his 
fault to and ask forgiveness of his Orderly Sergeant in presence of 



182 Tlie American Naval V^essels Threatened. 



the hattalioii. or be compelled to go on fatigue for three clays, and 
put in tlie guai-d house each night, at his option; and that this sen- 
tence shall be read on batallion parade l)y the Adjutant this evening. 

Patrick Shaw, President. 
Attest: Samuel Bayless, Judfjc Advncatr. 
Approved : James Mills, 

Colonel First Recj. Third Dvpl. (). M. 

[general order.] 

Camp Mekis, July 4, 1813. 

The General commanding announces to the troops under his com- 
mand the return of this day, which gave liberty and independence 
to the United States of America; and orders that a national salute 
l)e fired under the superintendence of Captains Gratiot and Cushing 
All the troops reported fit for duty shall receive an extra gill of 
whisky. And those in confinement and those under sentence attached 
to their corps, be forthwith released and ordered to join their re- 
spective corps. 

The General is induced to use this lenience alone from considera- 
tion of the ever memorable day, and flatters himself that in future, 
the soldiers under his command will better appreciate their liberty 
by a steady adherence to duty and prompt compliance with tlie 
orders of their otticers, l)y which alone they are worthy to enjoy the 
blessings of that liberty and independence, the only real legacy left 
us by our fathers. 

All courts martial now constituted in this camp are hereby dis- 
solved. There will be fatigue this day. 

Robert Butler, A. Adjf. Gen. 



[general order.] 

Camp MkKtS, July 8, l«lo. 

The commanding General directs that the old guard, on being re- 
leased, will march out of camp and discharge their arms at a target 
placed in some secure position, and as a reward for those who may 
excel in shooting, eight gills of whisky wiU be given to the nearest 
shot, and four gills to the second. The oflicer of the guard will 
cause a return, signed for that purpose, signifying the names of the 
men entitled to the reward. 

By order of G. Clay, Gen. Com. 

Robert Butler, .1. Adjt. Gen. 



The ship building going on at Eric had not, meanwhile, been 
unknown to, or disi-egarded by tlie English, who proposed all in 
o;ood time to destroy the vessels upon which so much dejiended 
and to approi)riate the stores of the Americans. "The ordnance 
and naval stores you require,'' said Sir George Prevost to General 



Capfaiii Jtanhnfs A riiiiu/ewntK. 188 



Proctor ••must bt- takni iVom ilic I'luiiiy, whose resources on Lake 
Kric must bccoiiu* yours. I am mwcli mistaken, it" y<>u »lo not liii<l 
Captain IJarday ilisposcd to play that Ljame.' Captain Barclay was 
an oxpcricnccd, hravc, antl alilt^ seaman, and was waitiui; anxiously 
Inr a suflii-icnt Ixiily of troops to be span-il Iiim. in order tf» attack 
Kric with success. A sHtlicient force was promised liim on tlie l.Stli 
of" .Tuiy, at whicli time thi- British Mei't went down ihi' hike to 
reconnoitre, and, it" it were wise, to make the proposed attempt 
upon tlie Amoric ms at Erie. Xone, liowcvei, was made. 

Finflinij no pro^n ss made, Proctor next moved to Lower San- 
tltisky. i'.to the nciirhhorhood of the Commander-in-Chief. Tlie 
principal stores of Harrison were at Upper Sandusky, while he 
himself was at Seneca, and Major Croghan at Fort Stephenson or 
Lower Sandusky. This latter post beintj deemed indefensihie 
against heavy cannon, and it being supposed that Proctor would 
of course bring heavy cannon if he attacked it, the General, and 
a coimcil of war called by him, thought it wisest to abandon it ; but 
before this could be done, after the Qnal determination of the 
matter, the api)earance of the enemy upon the *>lst of July, made 
it impossible. The garrison of the little fort was composed of one 
hundred and fifty men, under a commander just past his twenty- 
first vear, and with a single piece of cannon, while the invcstinir 
l"orce, including Tecumseh's Indians, was, it is said, three thousand 
strong, and with six pieces of artillery, all of them, fortunately, 
light ones. 

Several days before the liritish had invested Fort Meigs, General 
llarri.son, with Major Croghan and some other oflicers, had examined 
the heights wiiicli surround Fort Stei>henson ; and as the hill on the 
opposite or d.)Ut'ieasl; side of the river was found to be the most 
commanding eminence, the General had some thoughts of removing 
the fort to tha^ place, and Major Cro:;lian declared his readiness l<i 
undertake the work. But the General tlid not authorize him to «h> 
it, as he believed that if the enemy intenUed to invade our territory 
again, they would <lo it before the removal could l)e completed. It 
was then liiially concluded that t!'.e fort, which was calculated for a 
garrison of only 2f><) nien, could not be defended against the heavy 
artillery of theent-my; and that if the British should apprnach it 
bv water, which would cause a presumption (hat they hail brought 
lh<ir he. ivy arlill'-ry, the fort must i)e abandoned and Iturnt, provided 
il retreat could be elfecled with .safety. In the orders left with Major 



184 Military Inspection of Fort Stephenson. 

Cros^lian, it was stated — •' Should tlie British troops approacli 
you in force with cannon, and you can discover them in time to 
effect a retreat, you will do so immediately, destroying all the public 
stores. 

'* You must be aware that the attempt to retreat in tlie face of an 
Indian force, would be in vain. Against such an enemy your garri- 
son would be safe, however great the number." 

On the evening of the 29 Hi, General Harrison received intelligence 
bv express, from General Clay, that the enemy had abandoned the 
siege of Fort Meigs; and as the Indians on that day had swarmed 
in the woods round his camp, he entertained no doubt bnt that an 
immediate attack was intended either on Sandusky or Seneca. He 
therefore immediately called a conncil of Avar, consisting of M'Arthur, 
Cass, Bali, Paul, Wood, Hukill. Holmes and Graham, who were 
unanimously of the opinion that Fort Stephenson was untenable 
against heavy artillery, and that as the enemy could bring with 
facility any quantity of battering cannon against it, by which it 
must inevitably fall, and as it was an unimportant post, containing 
nothing the loss of which would be felt by as, that the garrison 
should therefore not be reinforced, 1)ut withdrawn, and the place des- 
troyed. In pursuance of this decision, the General immediately 
dispatched the order to Major Croghan, directing him immediately 
to abandon Fort Stephenson, to set it on fire and repair with his 
command to headquarters — cross the river and come up on the oppo- 
site side, and if he should find it impracticable to reach the General's 
quarters, to take the road to Huron, and pursue it w'th the utmost 
circumspection and dispatch. This order was sent by Mr. Conner 
and two Indians, who lost their way in the dark, and did not reach 
Fort Stephenson till 11 o'clock the next day. When Major Croghan 
received it, he was of opinion that he could not then retreat with 
safety, as the Indians were hovering around the fort in considerable 
force. He called a council of his officers, a majority of whom coin- 
cided with him in opinion that a retreat would be unsafe, and that 
the post could be maintained against the enemy, at least till farther 
instructions could be received from headquarters. The Major there- 
fore immediately returned the following answer : 

'•' Sir — , I have just received yours of yesterday, 10 o'clock r. m., 
ordering me to destroy this place and make good mv retreat, which 
was received too late to be carried into execution. AVe have deter- 
mined to maintain this place, and by heavens we can," 



Iferolc Defence of Fini Sfe)>h< ))yon. 



185 




I'ort Sanditski/ mitt Knr irons : scale. 200 i/nrds to the inrh. 

[Rfferencfs to the Environs. — a — British gun-boats at their place of Inmling. b — Can- 
non, a six-pounder, c — Mortar, d — Batteries, e — Graves of Li'iii. Col. Short and Lieut. 
'Jordoii, who fell in the ditch. / — Road to Upper Sandusky. <r — Adviinn' of the enemy 

to the fainl diich. i — Heail ot' navigation. 

Referenceit to the Fort. — Litie 1 — Picketi'"; 
/...'/;? '2 — KMiliaiikiiKMii Initn llie (jiuii to and 
again-'it ih<; pirkei. Linr '.i — Dry diti-h. nine 
left wide liy «ix <leep. lAnr -X — Outward 
enil)ankiiieni or glacis. A — Biock-house 
first attacked liy cannon. A H — Bas-tion 
trom which liie ditcli was r.-ik'd hy Crog- 
iian's artillery. C — (tiiarii h!oi k-imu^e, in 
the lower left corner. \) — lldspital during 
the attack. K C VL — .Mi i'ary store-honscs. 
V — C'oniiiii».sary'!» store-h'Ui-e (; — Maga- 
zine H — Fort i;aie K K K — Wicker 
gates. V, — Partition gi:>- 




I'm I Saiidnskii. 



In writi.ig iliis note Mjijor Croghan luul :i view to tlu- in-oliahility 
of its falling into the liand.s of tlu' (.Miemv. ami on that account niaiK- 
use of strono:(.-r language than would othorwise have been consi.^tent 
with ])ro]iriely. It reached the (Jeneral on the ?anie day, win did not 
fully undeistand the circuni.^tance.s and motives under which it had 
Ikcu dictatett. 'J'he folhtwing order was therefore immediately pre- 
jiared, and sent with Colontl Wells in the morning, escorted by 
Colonel I>all. with his cori>s of dragoons: 

••Si I! — Till' (i(nri;il has just rectivetl vour let(<r <i| (his da(«-. 
informing him that vou had thotight i»ro|ier to disoK. y (he tmhr 



186 Satisfactory Explanations, of Qroghan. 

issued from this office, and 'lelivered to you this morning. It appears 
that the inibrmation wliich dictated the order was incorrect; and us 
you did not receive it in tlie nig'iit, as was expected, it might have 
been proper that you should have reported the circumstance and 
your situation, before you proceeded to its execution. This might 
have been passed over; but I am directed to say to you, that an 
officer who presumes to aver that lie has made his resolution, and 
that he will act in direct opposition to the orders of his general, can 
no longer be entrusted with a separate command. Colonel Wells is 
sent to relieve you. You will deliver the command to him, and 
repair with Colonel Ball's squadron to this place. By command, &c., 

" A. li. Holmes, Ass'f. Adft. General:' 

Colonel Wells being left in the command of Fort Stephenson, 
Major Oroghan returned with the squadron to headquarters. He 
there explained his motives for writing such a note, which were 
deemed satisfactory; and having remained all night with the General, 
who treated him politely, he was permitted to return to his command 
in the morning, with wiitten orders similar to those he had received 
before. 

A reconnoitering party wliich liad been sent from headquarters to 
the shore of the lake, about twenty miles distant from Fort Stephen- 
son, discovered the approach of the enemy, by water, on the evening 
of the olst of July. They returned by the. fort after 12 o'clock the 
next day, and had passed it but a few hours, when the enemy made 
their appearance before it. The Indians showed themselves first on 
the hill over the river, and were saluted by a six-pounder, the only 
piece of artillery in the fort, which soon caused them to retire. In 
half an hour the British gun-boats came in sight, and the Indian 
forces displayed themselves in every dii'ection, with a view to intercept 
the garrison, should a retreat be attempted. The six-pounder was 
fired a few times at the gun-boats, which was returned by the artillery 
of the enemy. A landing of their troops with a five-and-a-half inch 
howitzer, was effected about a mile below the fort ; and Major Cham- 
bers, accompanied by Dixon, was dispatched towards the fort with a 
dag, and was met on the part of Major Croghan by Ensign Shipp, 
of the 17th Regiment. After the usual ceremonies. Major Chambers 
observed to Fjusign Shii)}), that he was instructed by General Proctor 
to demand the surrender of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the 
eftnsiou of human blood, which lie could not do, should he bo under 



hJnsi(in Shipp — lieiiuivlaihle Intei'vieiv. 187 

I lie necessity of reducing it by the powerful force of artillerv, 
rcjiulurs and ludiuns under his coniiniind. Shipj) replied tlwit the 
ooniniuiidiiiil of the fort and its garrison were deter mined to defend 
it to the last extremity; that no force, however great, could induce 
them to surrender, as they were resolved to maintain their post, or to 
l)ury themsi-lvi'S in its ruins. Dickson then said that their immense 
body of Imlians could not be restrained from murdering the whole 
garrison in casj of success, of which we have no douitt. rejoined 
C'hambers, as we are ami>ly prepared. Dickson then proceeded to 
remark, that it was a great i)i*y so line a young man should fall into 
■'i- hands of the sifvages — ".Sir, fnr God's sake, surrender, and 
l>i-. \ cut thedr.'idful massacre that will be caused by your resistanee." 
Mr. Siiipp replied, that when the fort was taken, there would be 
none to m'Hsiere. It will not be given up while a man is able to 
resist. An Inlian at this moment came out of an adjoining ravine, 
and a lvan('ing to the Ensign, took hold of his sword and atlemjited 
to wrest it from him. Dickson interfered, and having restrained the 
Indian, affected great anxiety to get him safe into the fort. 

The enemv now opened their fire from their six-pounders in the 
gun-1) )ats and the howitzer on sliore, which they continued through 
the night with but little intermission, and with very little eflect. 
The forces of the enemy consisted of 500 regulars, and about 800 
Indians commanded by Dickson, the whole being commanded by 
• t.-n.-ral Proctor in person. Tecumseh was stationed on the road to 
Fort Meigs with a bo<ly of 2,000 Indians, expecting to intercept a 
reinforcement on that route. 

Maj »r Croghan through the evening occasionally fired his six- 
p )under, at th> same time changing its place occasionally to induce 
a b-'lief that li ■ had more than one i>iece. As it produced very little 
execution on the enemy, and he was desirous of saving his ammu- 
nition, he soon di.scontinued his lire. The enemy had directed their 
lire against the northwest angle of the fort, which induced the com- 
ni luder to believe that an attem|)t to storm his works would be made 
at that point. \\\ the night. Captain Hunter was directed to remove 
th." six-pounder to a l)lock-house, from which it w<»uld rake that 
angle. By great industry and personal exertimi, Captain Hunter 
S'l »n aecKiMpli^hed this ol)iet!t in secrecy. The (-mbras'ire was 
masked, and the piece l»>;uled with a half charge of powder, and 
a doiilili- chiiru'" of .slugs and grape-shot. Marly in the morning of 
the v'd, the enemy opeiietl their lire fnnn their howitzer and three 



188 A Night's Worh— Swift Justice. 

six-pouuders, which they had hmded in the night, and planted in a 
point of woods about 250 yards from the fort. In the evening, about 
4 o'clock, they concentrated the fire of all their guns on their north- 
west angle, which convinced Major Croghan that they would en- 
deavor to make a breach and storm the works at that point ; he 
therefore immediately liad that place strengthened as much as possi- 
ble Avitli bags of flour and sand, which were so effectual that the 
picketing in that iihice sustained no material injury. Sergeant 
Weaver, with five or six gentlemen of the Petersburg!! Volunteers 
and Pittsburgh Blues, who happened Co be in the fort, was entrusted 
with the management of the six-pounder. 

Late in the evening, when the smoke of the firing had completely 
enveloped the fort, the enemy proceeded to make the assault. Two 
feints were made towards the southern angle, where Captain Hunter's 
lines were formed ; and at the same time a column of 350 men was 
discovered advancing through the smoke, within twenty paces of 
the northwestern angle. A heavy, galling fire of musketry was now 
opened upon them from the fort, which threw them into some con- 
fusion. Colonel Short, who beached the principal column, soon 
rallied his men, and led them with great bravery to the brink of the 
ditch. After a momentary pause he leaped into the ditch, calling to 
his men to follow him, and in a few minutes it was full. The 
masked port-hole was now opened, and the six-pounder, at the 
distance of thirty feet, poured such destruction among them that 
but few who had entered the ditch were fortunate enough to escape. 
A precipitate and confused retreat was the immediate consequence, 
although some of the officers attempted to rally their men. The 
other column, which was led by Colonel Warburton and Major 
Chambers, was also routed in confusion by a destructive fire from 
the line commanded by Captain Hunter. The whole of them fied 
into the adjoining wood, beyond the reach of our fire-arms. During 
the assault, which lasted half an liour, tlie enemy kept up au inces- 
sant fire from their howitzer and fiv^e six-pounders. They left Col. 
Short,* a lieutenant and twenty-live privates dead in the ditch; and 
the total number of prisoners taken was twenty-six, most of them 
badly wounded. Major Muir was knocked down in the ditch, and 

*Coloucl Short, who commanded Uio re2:iiLars coraposin;; the Forlorn Uopo, was ordering 
lilts niuu to loap the (lilcli, cut down the pickets, an I Rive tli ' .Vniericaus no quarters, when 
ho fell mortally wounded into the ditch, hoisted his whlto haudkerchiel' on the end of hie 
Bword, and bojj^'od for that nH'r<:y which he had a njonient before ordered to be denied to his 
cuemy. 



Tht Ameriai II \'iit<nii (niniilcte. l^'' 



l;iy amoiifj tilt' (lt':i(l, till tlio diirknoss of flic \\\<^\l i'ii:il)lt'<l liiiii to 
• scjiiu' in Siift'ty. Tlic Idss of the iijjirri.soii Wiis om* killed uiul scvi-ii 
liifntly wounil'-il. 'I'hc total loss <>r the nii'inv ('(MiKI iKtt he less 
than I'lO killed and wounded. 

When ni<^lit came on, which wiissoon alter the assault, the wounded 
in the ditch were in a desiderate situation. Complete relief could 
not be hrouf^lit to them by either side with any decree of safety. 
'Major Croghan, however, relieved tliem as much as possible — he con- 
trived to convey them water over the picketing in buckets, and a 
ditch was openeil under the pickets, throuj^h which those who were 
able and willing, were encouraged to crawl into the fort. All who 
were able, i)referred, of course, to follow their defeated comrades, 
and many others were carried from the vicinity of the fort by the 
Indians, particularly their own Jvilled and wounded; and in the 
night, about 3 o'clock, the whole British and Indian force com- 
menced a disorderly retreat. So great was tlieir precipitation thai 
they left a sail-boat containing some clothing and a considerable 
(juantity of military stores, and on the next day, seventy stand of 
arms and some braces of pistols were picked up around the fort. 
Their hurry and confusion were caused by the ai)prehension of an 
attack from General Harrison, of whose position and force they had 
probal)ly received an exaggerated account. 

It was the intention of (Jeneral Harrison, should the enemy .suc- 
i ceed against Fort Stephenson, or should they endeavor to turn his 
left and fall on Upper Sandusky, to leave his camp at Seneca and 
fall back lor the i)rot<.'Ction of that place. Jiut he di.scovered by the 
firing on the evening of the 1st, that iho enemy luul nothing but 
light artillery, which could make no impression on the fort ; and he 
knew that an attempt to storm it without making a l)reach. could 
t)e successfully repelled by tiie garrison. He therefore determiurtl 
lo wait for the arrival of rioO mounted volunteers undi-r Colonel 
Kennick, being the atlvance of 7u() who were approaching l>y tin- 
way of Upper Sandusky, and then to march against the enemy and 
raise the siege, if their force was not still too great for his. On the 
".'d, he sent several scouts to ascertain their situation and force; but 
I the woods were so infested with Indian.s, that none of them could 
I proceed snfticiently near the fort to make tiie necessary discoveries. 
In the night the messenger arrived at hejuhjuarters with intelligence 
that the enemy were preparing to retreat. Aluuit 9 o'clock, Major 



1 90 " General ProGtor\s Mortification^^^ 

Oroghaii had ascertained from their collecting about tlieir boats, that 
they were preparing to embark, and had immediately .sent ati express 
to the ComraandeJ-in-chief with this information. The General 
now determined to wait no longer for the reinforcements, and imme- 
diately set out sv'ith ihe dragoons, with which he reached the fort 
early in the mornings having ordered Generals McArthur and Cass, 
who had arrived at Seneca several days ])efore, to follow him with all 
the disposable infantry at that place, and which at this time was 
aljout TOO men, after the numerous sick, and the force necessary to 
maintain the position, were left behind. Finding that the enemy 
had fled entirely from the fort, so as not to be reached by him, and 
learning that Tecumseh was somewhere in the direction ot Fort 
Meigs, with 2,000 warriors, he immediately ordered the infantry to 
fall back to Seneca, lest Tecumseh should make an attack on that 
place, or intercept the small reinforcements advancing from Ohio. 

In his official report of thi§ afiair, General Harrison observes that 
" It will not be among the least of General Proctor's mortilications^ 
that.he has been bathed by a youth, who has just passed his twenty- 
first year. He is, however, a hero worthy of his gallant uncle. 
General George R. Clarke." 

Captain Hunter, of the 17th Regiment, the second in command, 
conducted himself with great propriety; and never was there a set 
of finer young fellows than the subalterns, viz.: Lieutenants Johnson 
and Bayljr of the ITth, Meeks of the 7th, and Ensigns Shipp and 
Duncan of the I'Tth. 

Lieutenant Anderson of the 24th, was also noted for his good 
conduct. Being without a command, he solicited Major Croghan 
for a musket and a post to fight at, which he did with the greatest 
bravery. 

"Too much praise," says Major Croghan, "cannot be bestowed on 
the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates under my com- 
mand, for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege.'* 

The brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel was immediately conferred 
on Major Croghan, by the President of the United States, for his 
gallantry on this occasion. The ladies of Chillicothe also presented 
him an elegant sword, accompanied by a suitable address. 

We take the above from Dawson's Life of Harrison, where it is 
quoted from some other source. In defending General Harrison 
from the charges of cowardice and incompetency in not marching to 
the aid of the garrison previous to the attack, Dawson says : 



Justice io (h))ri'<il Iliiri'hni). \\\\ 

The coiuluct of tlic gallant Croglian anil his garrison receivod 
from every <|iiartt'r the j)huulits of their couiitrynK'n. 'J'his was 
what they most richly deserved. There was, however, some jealous 
spirits who took it into their heads to ho dissatisfied with the course 
jinrsued by the eonimanding general. The order which was given 
to Colonel Croghaii to evacuate and destroy the garrison previously 
to the attack, was loudly condemned, as well as the decision of the 
council of war, to fall hack with the troops then at Seneca, to a 
position twelve miles in the rear. P>oth these measures, it has been 
said, were determined on by the unanimous advice of the council of 
war. It is not to be presumed th.at such men as composed that 
board, would have given advice whicli was in any way derogatory to 
the honor of the American arms. Every individual among them 
either had, before or afterwards, 'distinguished himself by acts of 
daring courage and intrejiidity. We do not profess to be much 
ac(|uainted with military matters, but the subject appears to us so 
jtlaiii as only to require a small portion of common sense perfectly 
to comprehend it. At the time that the determination was made to 
withdraw tlie garrison from Sandusky, it must be recollected that 
the General had only with him at Seneca about 4U0 infantry and L'iO 
or 140 dragoons. The enemy, as he was informed by General Clay 
in the letter brought by Captain M"Cune, amounted to at least 5,000- 
With such a disparity of force, would it have been proper to have 
risked an action to preserve the post of Lower Sandusk}', wliich of 
itself was of little or no importance, and which, the garrison being 
withdrawn, contained nothing of any value ? The posts of Fort 
Meigs and Upper Sandusky were of the utmost importance ; the 
former was amply provided with the means of defence, and was in 
no danger; but the latter, weak in its d^-lences, and with a feeble 
garrison, containing many thousands of barrels of flour and other 
provisionSj the sole resource' of the army for the coming campaign, 
was to be preserved at any risk. The position at Seneca was not in 
the direct line from Fort .Meigs to Upper Sandusky. The enemy, 
!)y taking the direct route, would certainly reach it before General 
Harrison, as several hours must have elapsed before he could have 
l)een informed of their movement, even if it had been discovered the 
moment it had been commenced, a circumstance not very likely to 
happen. It therefore became necessary for the security of Upper 
Sandusky, that a position lietter iulapted to that purpose should be 
assumed. 'JMiere was another and most important reason for this 



192 justice to General Harrison. 

movement; twelve miles in the rear of Seneca, towards Upper San- 
(luslvj, the prairie or open country commences. The infantry, which 
tlie Commander-in-chief had with him were raw recruits; on the 
contrary, the squadron of dragoons were well disciplined, and had 
seen much service. In the country about Seneca, this important 
corps could have been of little service ; in the open country to the 
rear, they would have defeated five times their number of Indians. 
It was for these reasons that it was determined by the council of 
war to change the position of the .troops at Seneca. If this move- 
ment did take place, the propriety of withdrawing the garrison of 
Lower Sandusky was obvious. The place was extremely weak, and 
in a bad position. It was not intended originally for a fort. Before 
the war it was used as the Uhited States Indian factory, and had a 
small stockade around it, merely for the purpose of keeping out 
drunken Indians. It was, moreover, commanded by a hill, within 
point-blank shot, on the opposite side of the river. To those who 
suppose that General Harrison should have advanced upon the 
enemy, the moment he discovered that Sandusky was attacked, we 
must, in the language of the general and field officers who were 
present on the occasion, '* leave them to correct their opinions in the 
school of experience.'' G-eueral Harrison had been reinforced a day 
or two before the siege of Sandusky, b}' the 2Sth Eegimont. raisetl in 
Kentucky. After having received this corps, he could not inive 
marched more than 800 eflfective men Avithout risking his stores, and. 
what was of still more consequence, 150 sick at Seneca, to be taken 
by the smallest part}^ of Indian^. The scouts of the ar.uy brouglit 
information that the Indians were very numerous in the diiv(;tioii of 
Fort Meigs. The Greneral conjectured that a large portion of the 
Indians were then ready to fall on his flank or rear, or the defense- 
less camp at Seneca, should he advance. The information he received 
from the British prisoners confirmed this opinion ; a body of 2,000 
being there under the command of Tecumseh. At the moment of 
which we are speaking, the volunteers of Ohio were rapidly ap- 
proaching. J^ow, under these circumstances, does any reasonable 
man believe that G-eneral Harrison should have advanced with his 
800 raw recruits, against a force in front which he knew to be- so 
much superior in numbers, and with the probability of having one 
equally large hanging on his flank ? What would have been 
thought of his abilities as a general, even if he had been successful 
against General Proctor, (of which, with his small forci', there was 



77/€ Nana! I'^tcfor// im Erie. l'.'*'' 



little probability,) if in his alienee Tecnniseh, with his 2,()U0 
warriors, hail rii.shed iiixiii ('aiiiit Seneca, (U'stroycil his ston-s, toma- 
hawked his sick soldiers, and piirsiiinf^ his route toward^ Upper 
Sandusky, defeated the Uliio volunteers, seal I en-d as they win- in 
sinall bodies, and finally ending his careei with tin- dfslruetion nf 
the wranil inai,'a/,int' of his army, upon the j)reservatii)n ol which all 
his hopes ol" future success depended 'i In all huinau pritbability 
this would have been the result, had (Jeiural llarrisim ad\anc(| lo 
the relief of Fort Stephenson sonucr than he ditl. It was i t-rtainly 
better t,o risk for a while tlu* defence of that fort t»» the talents ;ind 
valor of Croghan, and the gallant spirits who were with him, than 
to jeopardise the whole prospects of the campaiu'ii. 

The next event in the history ot this war which claims attention, 
is the naval victory upon Lake Erie, achieved by Commoth)re l'en\ , 
a description of which is annexed from Perkins' Late War : 

At Erie, Commodore Perry was directed to re|>air and super- 
intend a naval establishment, the object, of whi(4i was to create a 
superior force on the lake. The difficulties ot building a navy in 
the wilderness can only be conceived by those who have experiencetl 
them. There was nothing at this spot out of which it could l»e 
built, but the timber of the forest. Ship builders, sailors, naval 
stores, guns and ammunition, were to be transported by laud, over 
bad roails, a distance of four hundred miles, either from Albany by 
the way of Butialo, or from Philadelphia by the way of P ittsburgh 
Under all these embarrassments, by the first of August, 1^1. '5, Com- 
modore Perry had provided a flotilla, consisting of the ships Law- 
rence and Niagara, of twenty guns each, and seven smaller vessels. 
to wit, one of four guns, one of three, two of two. and three of one ; in 
the whole fifty-four guns. While the ships were building, the enemy 
trequently appeared otf the harlior and threatened their tlestruc- 
tion; but the shallowness of the water on the bar — there being but 
five feet — prevented their approach. The same cause which insured 
the safety of the ships while Ituilding, seemed to prevent their being 
of any service. The two largest drew several feet m<n-e water liian 
there was on the bar. The inventive .genius of Commodore 
Perry, however, soon surmounted the difficulty. He placed large 
scows on each side of the two largest ships, tilled them so as to sink 
to the water's edge, then attached them to the ships by strong 
pieces of limber, and immped out the water. The scows then 

buoyed up the ships so as to |iass the bar in sat«'tv. This operation 

14 



194 The Naval Victory on Erie. 



was performed on both the large ships in the presence oi a superior 
enemy. Having gotten his fleet in readiness, Commodore Perry 
proceeded to the head of the lake, and anchored in Putin-Bay, 
opposite to, and distant thirty miles from Maiden, where the British 
fleet lay under the guns of the fort. He lay at anchor here several 
days watching the motions of the enemy, determined to give him 
battle the first favorable opportunity. On the lOth of September, 
at sunrise, the British fleet, consisting of one ship of nineteen guns, 
one of seventeen, one of thirteen, one often, one of three, and one ot 
one, amounting to sixty -four, and exceeding the Americans by ten 
guns, under command of Commodore Barclay, appeared off" Put in- 
Bay, distant about ten miles. Commodore Perry immediately got 
under weigh, with a light breeze at southwest. At 10 o'clock the 
wind hauled to the southeast, which brought the American squad- 
ron to the windward and gave them the weathergage. Commodore 
Perry, on board the Lawrence, then hoisted his union jack, having 
for a motto the dying words of Captain Lawrence, '' Don't (live ap 
ihe ,s////;," which was received with repeated cheers by the crew. 

He then formed the line of battle and bore up for the enemy, who 
at the same time hauled his courses and prei)ared for action. The 
lightness ol the wind occasioned the hostile squadrons to approach 
each other but slowly, and prolonged for two hours the solemn in- 
terval of suspense and anxiety which precedes a battle. The order 
and re<yularity of naval discipline lieightened the dreadful quiei of 
the moment. No noise, no bustle prevailed to distract the mind, 
except at intervals the shrill pipings of the boatswain's whistle or a 
murmuring whisper among the men, who stood around their guns 
with lighted matches narroAvly M^atching the movements of the foe, 
and sometimes stealing a glance at the coimtenances of their com- 
manders. In this manner the hostile fleets neared each other in 
awful silence. At fifteen mintites after eleven a bugle was sounded 
on board the enemy's headmost ship, Detroit, loud cheers burst 
from all her crews, and a tremendous tire opened ujDon the Lawrence 
from the British long guns, which, from the shortness of the Law- 
rence's, she was obliged to sustain for forty minutes without being 
able to return a shot. 

Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kept on 
his course in sucii gallant and determined style, that the enemy 
supposed he meant immediately to board. At five minutes before 
twelve, having gained a nearer position, the Lawrence opened her 



fire, but tlie long guns of the BritiBh still gave them greatly the 
:nlvant:ige, ainl llu* J^awrence was exceedingly cut u]» wilhoul being 
ablf to ilo hut vfry little ilainam' in ri'iiiiii. Tlieir .nhot ])ierci'<l her 
sides in all directions, killing the wounded in tlu- l>ertli-deck and 
steerage, where they had been carried to be dressed. One shot had 
nearly produced a fatal explosion ; passing through the light room it 
knocked the hUiirt' ol' a candle into the magazine ; lortunately, the 
gunner s:i\\ it and had the coolness to instantly extinguish it. it ap- 
peared to lie the enemy s plan at all events to destr(jy the C'oinino- 
dore's ship; their heaviest lire was directed against th<' Lawrence, an<l 
blazed incessantly t'roui all their largest vessels. Commodore J*erry, 
tinding the hazard of his situation, made all sail and directed the other 
vessels to tbllow, tor the purjiose of closing witli the enemy. The 
tremendous lire, however, to which he was exposed, soon cut away 
every brace ami bowline of the Lawrence, and she became un- 
manageable. The other vessels were unable to get up; and in this 
disastrous situation she sustained the main force of the enemy's fire 
for upwards of two hours, within cannister distance, though a con- 
siderable i)art of the time not more than two or three of her guns 
could be brought to bear on her antagonist. The utmost order ami 
regularity prevailed during this scene of horror; as fast as the men at 
the guns were wounded they were carried below, and others stepped 
into their [)laces ; the dead lemaineil where they tell until after the 
action. At this jimcture the enemy V>elieveil the battle to be won. 
The Lawrence was reduced to a mere wreck; her «leck w;is stream- 
ing with blood and coveretl with mangled limbs ami bo<lies of the 
slain ; nearly the whole ot her crew were either killed or wounded ; 
her guns were dismounted, and the Commodore and his officers 
helped to work the last that was capable ot service. At two, Cap- 
tain KUiot was enabled by the aid ot a fresh breeze, to bring his 
ship into close action in gallant style ; and the Commodore immedi- 
ately determined to shift his flag on board that ship; ami giving his 
own in charge to Lieutenant Yarnell, he hauled down his union 
jack, and taking it under his arm, ordered a boat to jun him on 
board the Niagara. Broadsides were levelled at his boat, and a 
shower of musketry from three of the enemy's ships. He arrived 
safe and hoisted his union jack, with its animating motto, on board 
the Niagara. Cajttain Klliott. by tlirectiou ot' the Commodore, im- 
mediately put off in a lioat to bring up the schooners, which had 
been kept back by the lightness ol the wind. At this moment the 



1<M> The Naval Victory on Erie. 

iiag of the Lawrence was hauled down. She had sustained the 
principal force of the enemy's tire for two hours, and was rendered 
incapable of defence. Any further show of resistance would have 
been a useless sacrifice of the relics of her brave and mangled crew. 
The enemy were at the same time so crippled that they were un- 
able to take possession of her, and circumstances soon enabled her 
crew to again hoist her Hag. Commodore Perry now gave the 
sisnal to all the vessels for close action.' The small vessels under 
the direction of Captain Elliott, got out their sweeps and made all 
sail. Finding the Niagara but little injured, the Commodore deter- 
mined upon the bold and desperate expedient of breaking the 
enemy's line ; he accordingly bore up and passed the head of the 
two ships and. brig, giving them a raking fire from his starboard guns, 
and also a raking tire upon a large schooner and sloop from his lar- 
board quarter, at half pistol shot. Having gotten the whole squad- 
ron into action, he luffed and laid his ship alongside the British 
Commodore. The small vessels having now got up within good grape 
and cannister distance on the other quarter, enclosed the enemy 
between them and the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most 
destructive fire on both quarters of the British, until every ship 
struck her colors. 

The engagement lasted about three hours, and never was victory 
more decisive and complete. jMore prisoners were taken than there 
were men on board the American squadron at the close of the action. 
The principal loss in killed and wounded was -on board the Law- 
rence, before the 'other vessels were brought into action. Of her 
crew, twenty-two were killed and sixty wounded. When her Hag 
was struck, but twenty men remained on deck fit for duty. The 
loss onboard of all the other vessels, was only hve killed and thirty- 
six wounded. The British loss must have been much more consid- 
erable. Commodore Barclay \\ as dangerously wounded. He had 
lost one arm at the battle of Trafalgar. The other was now ren- 
dered useless ])y the loss of a part of his slioulder-blade; he i-eceived 
also a severe wound in tlie hip. 

Commodore Perry, in his official dispatch, speaks in the highest 
terms of respect and commisseration for his wounded antagonist, 
and asks leave to grant him an immediate jjarole. Of Captain 
Elliott, his second in command, he says, " that he is already so well 
known to the government that it would be almost superfluous to 
speak. ■ In this action he evinced his characteristic braveiy and 



Tlu Xtiviil Vir'fory on F/rie. 1^' 



judcmont. ninl sinco tho close of it has irivon mo tlio most aide and 
essential assistance." The l>oM and desperate measure of pressinrj 
forward into action with the Lawrence alone, and exposinir her to 
the whole fire of the enemy's Heet for two hours, before the other 
ships <'ould be ixot up. lias 1>een censured as rash and not warranted 
bv the rules of naval war: but there are seasons when the com- 
mander must relv more on the darinir jtromptncss of his measures 
than on nice calculations of comparative strength. Neither Bona- 
parte nor Nelson ever stopped to measure accurately the strength 
of the respective combatants. The result is the acknowledged and 
generally the best criterion of merit; and it should not detract from 
the eclat of the successful commander, that his measures were bold 
and decisive. 

Two days after the battle, t wo Indian chi<-fs. who had been selected 
for their skill as marksmen. an<l stationed in the tops of the Detroit 
for the purpose of j)icking off the American officers, were found 
snugly stowed away in the hold of the Detroit. These savages, 
who had been accustomed to ships of no greater magnitude than 
what they could sling on their backs, when the action became warm 
were so panic-struck at the terrors of the scene and the strange 
perils that surrounded them, th.at. looking at each other with amaze- 
ment, they vociferated their significant "7//0?///." and precipitately 
descended to the hold. Tn their British uniforms hanging in bags 
upon their famished Vtodies, they were brought before Commodore 
Perry, fed. and discharge<l : no further parole being necessary to 
prevent their afterwards engaging in the contest. The slain of the 
crews both ofstpiadrons were committed to the lake immediately after 
the action. The next day the funeral obsequies of the American 
and British otticers who had fallen, were performed at an opening 
on the margin of the bay, in an appropriate and affecting manner. 
The crews of both fleets united in the ceremony. The stillness of 
the weather — the procession of boats — the music — the slow .and 
regular motion of the oars, striking in ex.act time with the notes of 
the solemn dirge — the mournful waving of the flags — the sound ol 
the minute guns from all the ships — the wild and solitary aspect of 
the place — gave to these funeral rites a most impressive influence, 
and forming an .affecting contra.st witli the terribh' eonfliet <if tlie 
preceding day. Th'-n the people of the two s<(uadrf>ns \v«'re <'n- 
izaired in the deadly •strife of arms ; now t.liey were associated as 
'^brothers to yiay the last tri>»nte of respect to the slain of both nations. 



198 Arrangements for Invading Canada. 

Two American officers, Lieutenant Brooks and Midshipman Laub, 
of the Lawrence ; and three British, Captain Finnis and Lieutenant 
Stoke, of the Charlotte, and Lieutenant Garland, of the Detroit, lie 
interred by the side of each other in this lonely place on the margin 
of the lake, a few paces from the beach. 

This interesting battle was fought midway of the lake, between 
the two hostile armies, who lay on the opposite shores, waiting in 
anxious expectation its result. The allied British and Indian forces 
to the amount of four thousand five hundred, under Proctor and 
Tecumseh, were at Maiden, ready, in case of successful issue, to 
renew their ravages on the American borders. 

Meanwhile, the American army had received its reinforcements, 
and was only waiting the expected victory of the fleet to embark. 
On the 27th of September, it set sail for the shore of Canada, and 
in a few^ hours stood around the ruins of the deserted and wasted 
Maiden, from which Proctor had retreated to Sandwich, intending to 
make his way to the heart of Canada, by the valley of the Thames. 
Previous to his departure, however. General Harrison addressed 
Governor Meigs as follows : 

Frakklinton", September 22d, 1813. 

Be pleased to send a company of one hundred men to Fort Meigs. 
Thirty or forty will do for Lower Sandusky. 

I am informed that the term of the garrison at Fort Findlay will 
expire on the 22d instant. Will you be pleased to order there 
twenty or thirty men ? 

Yours respectfully, 

Wm. Henry Harrisok. 
To His Excellency Governor R. J. Meigs. 



On the 29th, Harrison was at Sandwich, and McArthnr took 
possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. At this point 
Colonel Johnson's mounted rifle regiment, which had gone up the 
west side of the river, rejoined the main army. On the 2d of October, 
the Americans began their march in pursuit of Proctor, whom they 
overtook upon the 5th. He had posted liis army with its left rest- 
ing upon the river, while the right flank was defended by a marsh ; 
the ground between the river and the marsh was divided lengthwise 
by a smaller swam}), so as to make two distinct fields in which the 
troops were to oparate. The British were in two lines, occupying 
the field between the river and small swamp ; the Indians extended 



Anwrirans FnVotr up fheir V'Ktoni. lt>0 



froni the small to tho larjjo inoiass. ihc i^rouiKl bcinij siiitfiMc to 
tlu'ir ino<lc of warfare, .md imfa\(»ral)k' tor cavalry. Harrison at 
first ordered the mounted Kentiickians to the left of tlte Araeriean 
army, that i-. to the field farthest from the river, in order to aet 
auainst the Indians, while with his infantry formed in three lines, 
and stronijjly protected on the left flank to secure it against the 
savai^es, he proposed to meet the British troops themselves. Before 
the battle commenced, however, he learned two tacts, whi(^h induced 
him to change his plans ; one was the bad nature of the ground on 
his left tor the operations of horse; the other was the open order 
of the English regulars, which made them liable to a fatal attack by 
cavalry. Learning these things, Harrison, but whether upon his 
own siiggestion or not, we cannot say, ordered Colonel Johnson 
with his mounted men to charge, and try to break the regular 
troops, })y passing through their ranks and forming in their rear. In 
arranging to do this, Johnson foiuid his space between the river and 
small swamp too narrow for all his men to aet in with effect ; so, 
dividing them, he gave tho right hand body opposite the re-julars in 
charge to his brother James, while cro.<sing the swamp with the 
remainder, he himself led the way against Tecumseh and his savage 
followers. The charge of James Johnson was perfectly successtui ; 
the Kentuckians received the fire of the British, broke through 
their ranks, and forming beyoml them, produced such a panic by 
the novelty of the attack, that the whole body of troops yielded 
al once. <.ln the left the Indians fought more obstinately, and the 
horsemen were forced to dismount, but in ten minutes Tecumseh 
was dead, and his followers, who had learned the (ate of their 
allies, soon gave up the contest. In half an hour all was over, 
except the pursuit of Prod or. who had tied at the onset. The 
whole number in both armies was .about tive thousand ; the whole 
number killed, less th.m forty, so entirely was the affair ilecided by 
panic. We have thus, s.iys .Mi-. Perkins in his Western .\nnals. given 
an outline of the battle of the Thames, which practically closed the 
war in the Northwest : and to tiur own we add ])art of Harrison's 
official statement. 

" The troops at iny dispo.-al (>on.si.sted of about one liundritl and 
twenty regulars of- the -.iTth regiment, five brigades of Kentucky 
volunti'cr militia infanfry, under his excelleiicv fiovernor Shelby, 
averaging less than live hundred men, and Colonel Johnson*.s regi- 
ment of mounted infantry, making in the whole an aggregate some- 



200 Battle of the Thames. 

thing above three thousand. f No disposition of an army, opposed 
to an Indian force, can be safe unless it is secured on the flanks and 
in the rear. I had, therefore, no difficulty in ai-ranging the infantry 
conformably to my general order of battle. General Trotter's 
brigade of live hundred men, formed the front line, his right upon 
the road, and his left upon the swamp. General King's brigade as 
a second line, one hundred and fifty yards in the rear of Trotter's 
and Chiles's brigades, as a corps of reserve in the rear of it. These 
three brigades formed the command of Major General Henry; the 
whole of General Desha's division, consisting of two brigades, were 
formed en potence upon the left of Trotter. 

" Whilst I was engaged in forming the infantry, I had directed 
Colonel Johnson's regiment, which was still in front, to be formed 
in two lines opposite to the enemy, and upon the advance of the 
infantry, to take ground to the left, and forming upon that flank 
to endeavor to turn the right of the Indians. A moment's reflec- 
tion, however, convinced me that from the thickness of the woods 
and swampiness of the ground, they would be unable to do anything 
on horseback, and there was no time to dismount them and place 
their horses in security; I therefore determined to refuse my left to 
the Indians, and to break the British lines at once, by a charge of 
the mounted infantry; the measure was not. sanctioned by anything 
that I had seen or heard of, but I was fully convinced that it would 
succeed. The American backwoodsmen ride better in the woods 
than any other people. A musket or rifle is no impediment to 
them, being accustomed to carry them on horseback from their 
earliest youth. I was persuaded, too, that the enemy would be quite 
unprepared for the shock, and that they could not resist it. Con- 
formably to this idea, I directed the regiment to be drawn uj) in 
close column, with its right at the distance of fifty yards from the 
road, (that it might be in some measure protected by the trees from 
the artillery,) its left upon the swamp, and to charge at full speed 
as soon as the enemy delivered their fire. The few regular troops 
of the 27th regiment, under their Colonel (Paul), occupied, in 
column of sections of four, ihe small space between the road and 
the river, for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery, and some 
ten or twelve friendly Indians were directed to move under the 
bank. The crotchet formed by the front, line, and General Desha's 

t This estimate was too high, there were not more than 2,500. The British were nearly as 
numerous. See McAfee, Dawson, &c. 



lecntmAeli Killed hy Johnson. 201 



division was an important point. At that place, the voniTahlc Gov- 
ernor of K<iitncky was 'posted, who at the a^e of fI6 preserves all 
tilt' vi^or of youth, the ardent zeal whieh di.stin^iiished him in the 
Kevolutionary "War, and the undaunted bravery wliich he manifested 
at Kinii's Mountain. Witli my aids-de-camp, the Acting Assistant 
Adjutant <Jeneral, CJaptain J^utler, my gallant friend Commodore 
Perry, who did me the honor to serve as my volunteer aid-de-camj), 
and Hrii^adier (Jeneral Cass, who, having no command, tendered me 
his assistance, I placed myself at the head of the front line of 
iyfantry, to direct the movements of the cavalry, and give them the 
necessary support The army had moved on in this order ])Ut a 
short distance, when the mounted men received the fire of the 
British line, and were ordered to charge,; the horses in the front of 
the column recoiled from the fire ; another was given by the enemy, 
and our column at length getting in motion, broke through the 
enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the contest in front 
was over. The British officers seeing no hopes of reducing their 
disordered ranks to order, and our mounted men wheeling upon 
them, and pouring in a destructive fire, immediately surrendered. 
It is certain that three only of our troops were wounded in this 
charge. Upon the left, however, the contest was more severe with 
the Indians. Colonel Johnson, who commanded on that fiank ol' 
his regiment, received a most galling fire from them, which was 
returned with great ettect. The Indians still fuither to the right 
advanced and fell in with our front line of infantry, near its jnnc- 
tion with Desha's division, and for a moment made an imiui'ssion 
upon it. lli.'^ Excellency (iovernor Shell)v, however, brought up a 
regiment to its support, and the enemy receiving a severe lire in 
front, and a part of Johnson's regiment having gained their rear, 
retreated with precipitation. Their loss was verv considerable in 
the action, and manv were kill<'d in rlii-ir retreat." 

The question relative to the death of Tecumseh having been 
mooted, B. F. H. Witherell, Esq., of Detroit, on the "isth of Sep- 
tember, 1K5:», addressed a letter to General Lewis Cass, which was 
ptiblished in Volume .'> of the collections of the State Historical 
Soeiety of Wisconsin, extracts tVom which are here given : 

Th*- attidavit ol C:i|»'ain .James Knai;<;s, with wiiotn, .-is \si»li 
nearly all f>ur old citizens, 1 believe, you are acquainted, will. I 
think, set the question at rest. 

Being at the river Raisin a few day since, I called on C-aptain 



202 Tecumseh Killed hy Johnson. 



Knaggs, who was a brave and intrepid soldier, in the Ranger service. 

He stated to me all the circumstances of the battle on the Thames, 
so far as they came within his knowledge, and at my request, he 
made an affidavit, (a copy of which I herewith send yon,) narrating 
so much of the action as is connected with the death of the great 
chief 

Colonel Johnson stated at the time, and afterwards often reiterated 
it, that he killed an Indian with liis pistol, who was advancing upon 
him at the time his horse fell under him. The testimony of Captain 
Knaggs shows conclusively, that it could have been 11.0 other than 
Tecumseh. 

Colonel Johnson, when last here, saAV and recognized Captaiji 
Knaggs and Mr. Labadie as the men who bore him from the field 
in his blanket. 

The transaction is of some little importance in history, as the ball 
that bore with it the fate of^the great warrior, dissolved at once the 
last great Indian Confederacy, and gave peace to our frontier. 
I am, respectfully yours, &c., 

B. F. li. WiTHERELL. 

State of Michigan, } 

County of Monroe, ^ 

James Knaggs deposeth and saith, as follows: 

I was attached to a company of mounted men called Hangers, at 
the battle of the Thames in Upper Canada, in the year 181.'1 During 
the battle we charged into the swamp, where several of our horses 
mired down, and an order was given to retire to the hard ground 
in our rear, which we did. The Indians in front, believing that 
we were retreating, immediately advanced upon us. with Tecumseh 
at their head. I distinctly heard his voice, with which I was per- 
fectly familiar. He yelled like a tiger, and urged on his braves to 
the attack. We were then but a few yards apart. We halted on the 
hard ground, and continued our fire. After a few minutes of very 
severe fighting, I discovered Colonel Johnson lying near, on the 
ground, with one leg confined by the bady of his white mare, which 
had been killed, and had fallen upon him. My friend Medard 
Labadie was with me. We went up to the Colonel, with whom we 
were previously acquainted, and found him badly wounded, lying on 
his side, with one of his pistols lying in his hand. I saw Tecumseh 
at the same time, lying on his face, dead, and about fifteen or twenty 
feet from the Colonel. He was stretched at full length, and was 
shot through the body, I think near the heart. The ball went out 
through his back. He held his tomahawk in his right hand, (it had 
a brass pipe on the head of it,) his arm was extended as if striking, 
and the edge of the -tomahawk was stuck in the ground. Tecumseh 
was dressed in red speckled leggings, and a fringed hunting shirt ; 
he lay stretched directly towards Colonel Johnson. When we 
went up to the Colonel we oftered to help him. He replied with 



TfCinnfifh Kill^ed l>>/ 'fnJiv>iov. 203 



with preat animation. " KnajjCTS. let nie lay licri-, an<l )iiisli on :ui<l 
take I'ro<'toi". However, we liherato'l liim tVojn his dead horse, 
took his blanket (Voni his saddU-, placed him in it, and bore him off 
the Hekl. T had known Tocumseli trom m, boyhood; we were 
boys togellier. There was no other Indian kilh-d immediately 
around where Colonel Johnson or Tecumseh lay, though there were 
many near the ereek, a lew rods baek of where Tecum.-eh tell 

I ha<l no doubt then, and have none now, that Tecumseh fell by 
tlie hanil ot' ('ojoiicl Johnson. 

Jamks Kx aoos. 

Sworn to, before me, this 22d day of September, 185.'J. 

B. F. H. WiTHRUELL, Notary I'lihlir. 



The Secretary of the State Historical Society ol Wisconsin, Mr. 
Draper, adds the following {o the deposition ot Mr. Knaggs : 

*• Colonel Johnson was invaribly modest about claiming the honor 
of having slain Tecumseh. When I paid l.im a visit, at bis resi<leuce 
at the Great Crossings, iu Kentucky, in 1844, while collecting facts 
and materi.-ds illustrative of the career of Clark. Boone. Kenton and 
other Western pioneers, he exhiV)ited to me the horse jtistols he 
used in tlu* battle of the Thames, .ind modestly remarked, 'that 
with them he shot the chief who had c-onfronted and wounded him in 
the engagement.''' 

Alluding to Captain Knaggs" statenn-nt, tlie Louiscille .lonrmtl 
rem.'irked: '*A new witness has appeared in the newsjiapers testi- 
fying to facts which tend to show that Colonel U M. Johnson 
killed Tecumseh, The Colonel was certainly brave enough to nieet 
and kill a dozen Indians. an<l if hedidnl kill 'l\cumseh, he no doubt 
would have done it if he ha«l h:id .i chance. He himst-lf wa.s often 
interrogated upon the subject, and his reply upon at least one occa- 
sion was capital : • They say I killed him ; how could I tell ? I was 
in too much «»f a hurry, when he was advancing upon me, to ask 
him his name, or inquire aftt-r the health ot" his lamily. I tired as 
• puck :i8 convenient, an<l he tell. If it had been Tecumseh or the 
Prophet, it would have I»een all the same.' '" 

Shortly ath-r the foregoing pul)li(;ation, .Mr. W'ltherell commu- 
nicated ill*' following to a Detroit Journal : 

'•Captain Knjiggs, who is spoken of in that, communication, is a 
highly resfieetable citizen of Monroe, and was one of the mogt a<'tive 
and useful )»artis;ins in s< rvjct- during the war of IKlvJ. Almost in- 



204 Noble Qualities in Tecumseh. 

numerable and miraculous were his "hairbreadth 'scapes'' IVora the 
savages. 

" He related to me, when I last saw him, several anecdotes of 
Tecumseh, which will illustrate his character. Amongst others, he 
states that while the enemy was in full possession of the country, 
Tecumseh, with a large band of his warriors, visited the Raisin. The 
inhabitants along that river had been stripped of nearly every means 
of subsistence. Old Mr. Rivard, who was lame, and unable to labor 
to procure a living for himself and family, had contrived to keep 
out of sight of the wandering bands of savages, a pair of oxen, with 
which his son was able to procure a scanty support for the family. 
It so happened that, while at labor with the oxen, Tecumseh, who 
had come over from Maiden, met him in the road, and walking up 
to him, said, 'My friend, I must have those oxen. My young men 
are very hungry; they have had nothing to eat. We nuist have the 
oxen.' 

" Young Rivard remonstrated. He told the chief that if he took 
the oxen his father would starve to death. 

"'Well,' said Tecumseh, 'we are the conquerors,, and every thing 
we want is ours. I rmiM have the oxen ; my people must not starve ; 
but I will not be so mean as to rob you of them. I will pay you 
one hundred dollars for them, and that is far more than they are 
worth : but we must have them.' 

" Tecumseh got a white man to write an order on the British 
Indian Agent, Colonel Elliot, who was on the river some distance 
below, for the money. The oxen were killed, large fires built, and 
and the forest warriors were soon feasting on their flesh. Young 
Rivard took the order to Colonel Elliott, who promptly refused to pay 
it, saying, ' We are entitled to our support from the country we have 
conquered. I will not pay it.' The young man, with a sorrowful 
heart, returned with the answer to Tecumseh, who said, ' He won't 
pay it, will he? Stay all night, and to-morrow we will go and see.' 
On the next morning, he took young Rivard, and went down to see 
the Colonel. On meeting him, he said, 'Do you refuse to pay for 
the oxen I- bought?' 'Yes,' said the Colonel, and he reiterated the 
reason for refusal. ' I hought them,' said the chief, ' for my young 
men were very hungry. I promised to pay for them, and they shall 
be paid for. I have always heard that white nations went to war 
with cacJi. oilier, and not with peaceful individuals; tiiat they did not 
rob and plunder poor people. / will not.' 'Well,' said the Colonel, 



Nohle Qvalities in Tecuniaeli. 205 

• I will not pay (or them.' ' You can do as you please,' said the chief; 

• but before Toeiimsi'li and his warriors came to fight the battles ol" 
the great King tiiey had enough to eat, lor which they liad only tt> 
thank the Master of Life and their good ritles. Their hunting 
grounds supplied them with food enough ; to them tliey can return.' 
This threat pruduced a change in the Colonel's mind. The defec- 
tion of the great chief, he well knew, would immediately withdraw 
all the nations of the Red Men from the British service ; and with- 
out them they were nearly powerless on the frontier. 'Well,' said 
the Colonel, * if I mud pay, I will.' ' Give me hard money,' said 
Tecumseh, ' not rag money,' (army bills.) The Colonel then counted 
out a hundred dollars, in coin, and gave them to him. 7'he duel' 
handed the money to young Rivard, and then said to the Colonel, 
' Give me one dollar more.' It was given ; and handing that also to 
Kivard, he said, 'Take that; it will pay for the time von have lost 
in getting your money.' 

" How niuiiy inJiile warriors have sueii notions of justice? 

'• liclore the commencement of the war, when his hunting })artie8 
approached the white settlements, horses ami cattle were occasion- 
ally stolen ; but notice to the chief failfd not to jn-oiluce instant 
redress. 

"The (.'haracter of Tecumseh was that ol' a gallant and intrepid 
warrior, an honest and honoral)le man ; and his memory is respected 
by all our old citizens who personally knew him." 

The following letter from the venerable (teneral (Nimbs, of Ken- 
tucky, who l»ore .so gallant a i>art in the defen.se of the Ohio and the 
Manmee Valley, has ooth local and gemral inten-si: 

Edilur Historical Record: 

You ask me for a descrij)tion of the celebrated Indian warrior, 
Tecumseh, from my persojial observation. I answer that 1 never 
.saw the great chief but tmce, and then under rather exciting eircum- 
stances, but 1 have a viviil recollection of from his a])j>earance, and 
interc(nir.se with his personal frirnds. I am possessed of aci-urate 
knowledge of his character. 

I was, as you know, one of the prisoners taken at what is known 
as Dudley's defeat on the banks of the Mauinee Kiver, opposite Fort 
Meig.s, early in May, I8i;i. Tecumseh luul fallen upon our rear, 
and we were comjtelled to surrender. We were marched down to 
the old Fort Miami or .Maumee, in siiuads, where a terrible sceue 
awaited us. 



206 General Combi Estimate of Tecumseh. 



The Indians, fully armed with guns, war clubs and tomahawks — 
to saj nothing of scalping knives, had formed themselves into two 
lines in front of the gateway between which all of us were bound to 
pass.* Many were killed or wounded in running the gauntlet. 
Shortly after the prisoners had entered, the Indians rushed over the 
walls and again surrounded us, and raised the war-whoop, at the same 
tiaie making unmistakable demonstrations of violence. We all ex- 
pected to be massacred, and the small British guard around us were 
utterly unable to afford protection. They called loudly for General 
Proctor and Colonel Elliot to come to our relief. At this critical 
moment Tecumseh came rushing in, deeply excited, and denouced 
the murderers of prisoners as cowards. Thus our lived were spared 
and we were sent down to the fleet at the mouth of Swan Creek, (now 
Toledo) and from that place across the end of the lake to Huron 
and paroled. 

I shall uever forget the noble countenance, gallant bearing and 
sonorous voice of that remarkable man, while addressing his warriors 
in our behalf. 

He was then between forty and forty-tive years of age. His frame 
was vigorous and robust, but he was not fat, weighing about one 
hundred and seventy pounds. Five feet ten inches was his height. 
He had a high,.projecting forehead, and broad, open countenance ; and 
there was something noble and commanding in all his actions. He 
was brave, humane and generous, and never allowed a prisoner to 
be massacred if he couid prevent it. At Fort Miami he saved the 
lives of all of us who had survived running the gauntlet. He after- 
wards released seven Shawanese belonging to my command, and sent 
them home on parole. Tecumseh was a Shawanese. His name signi- 
fied in their language, Shooting Star. At the time when I saw him 
he held the commission of a Brigadier General in the British Army. 
I am satisfied that he deserved all that was said of him by General 
Cass and Governor Harrison, previous to his death. 

Leslie Combs. 

Lexington, Ky., October, 1871. 



In the foregoing is presented all that is deemed proper in a history 
of the Maumee Valley relating to events connected with the war of 
1812-15. The chapter is concluded by a publication, for the first 
time, of the following communications, some of which possess more 
than a local interest : 

Camp Meigs, June 20th, 1813. 

Dear Sir : — Two men, one a Frenchman and the other a private 
iu the late Colonel Dudley's regiment, have just arrived from Detroit, 
and from whom we have the important intelligence that the enemy 
contemplate another attack upon this garrison. 



General Chtij to Gen-entl Harrison. !?(>7 

The Frenchman states that the Indians had for some time been 
urging Oeneral Proctor to renew the attack. A council of war was 
lield a ft'W days sincf, in which it was det«:rniii)ed to renew the 
attack on Fort Meigs, and the conihined forces were to si't out on this 
(hiy, or to-n»orrow al farthest, with that vifW. 

Kroni every infornuition, tiie Indians would ht- aliout lour thuu- 
saml strong, with the expectation of addititHuil nintorcements of 
perhaps as nuiny more. 

Tilt' Hritish ri'guhir.s Iroin Fort < icurgf and Krif had Im-cu sent for, 
and WiMV expected at Maiden, alatut one thousanti six luunhvd stroug. 
The Canadian militia had been parailetl on tlu- 4th of .June, (the 
King's birthday,) and after a speech by the General had Ikimi ordered 
to yield up their arms, being deemeil unworthy of his Majesty's 
service. 

Tecumseh was encampeil at the river Souge, near its mouth. 

The ])risoner, Thomas Lowe, of Cajitain Kerr's co.npany Kentucky 
militia, .states that, "on the 5th of May, he was taken prisoner l»y 
the Indians ami carried about one hundred and fifty miles above 
Detroit, to the Sagaiia tribe, wliere he renuiined with two othei 
prisoners until a few days past, when all three attempted their 
eseajK'. They wej-e discovered liy tlie Indians, fired on and scattered, 
but neither of them killed. He made his way good to the neigh- 
borhood of Detidit, whi-re he fell in with the Frenchman, whose 
statement precedes, and who aijreed to accompany him to this place. 
That ti small distance from Detroit he was met or overtak< n by a 
large, portly man of fair complexion, who told him to hurry on to 
this place with all possible speed, and inform the commanding oflicer 
here that this place would be again f)esieged. The enemy would 
consist of about tour thousand Indians, one thousand five hundred 
or one thousand six hundred regulars, (a reinforcement just arrived 
at Maiden,) and the wiiole of the regular force from that post ; and 
that the enemy would set out for this place by to-morrow, or Monday 
at fartliest. He also states that previous to his h-aving the Indians, 
nearly all the women of the ^^agana tribe iuid left their towns for 
Detroit ; that the person who gave him this information states, as 
his opinion, that the enemy intended an attack on the posts in the 
rear of this, and that his opinion was founded on information 
received from a squaw. 

The officers of the garrison have been generally consulted, and 
they give the fullest coiilidence to the f>elief that the enemy contem- 
plate another attack on this fort; nor do I hesitate to join in the 
belief. 

The importance of this eommunication to you needs no comment 
from me. 

We shall be prepared to give our enemy a warm reception, come 
when they will. 

I have every confidence in your exertior.s, and feel that it is 
through you this army looks for triumpii over our enemies. 



208 J. Van Home to Governor Meigs. 



I have sent expresses in different routes and to different posts, to 
meet you, and enclosed copies of tliis communication ro Governors 
Meigs and Shelby, and have taken the liberty to order Colonel 
Johnston's regiment of mounted men from Foit Winchester to this 
place immediately. 

By different detachments sent from this place, we have received 
from Fort Winchester about one thousand two hundred barrels flour, 
including that escorted from Amanda by Ensign Gray. 
I am, with high consideration and respect. 

Your most obedient servant. 

Green Clay. 
To Major General Harrison. 



Zanesvilj>e, 7th August, 1813. 

Sir: — The communication of Mr. Beard, of the 31st of July, 
announcing the marching and arrival of so many troo})s for the 
relief of E'ort Meigs, has been duly received. 

I forwarded to General McConnell, and also to Geuenil Paul's 
brigade, the orders for two hundred men each. 

Captain Buell, the bearer hereof, is on his way with a large com- 
ptmy of mounted men from Marietta. I furnished him with a few 
cartridges. Having sent nearly all the lead on hand to the order 
of Colonel Enos, some time ago, I shall have to purchase lead to 
work up the powder. 

News from headquarters has been so various and contradictory 
these few days past, that we have been in great anxiety. At length, 
however, it seems to have gained belief that the enemy have been 
repulsed at Lower Sandusky, with the loss of some two hundred 
men, and fled. 

Calculations are making here, that with so large a body of men, 
they will, when concentrated, move on, without waiting to be tran.-- 
ported by Commodore Perry, perhaps to Detroit and Maiden, and 
restore Michigan to its rightful sovereignty. 

Mav your progress be such as to raise the siege of Fort Meigs, 
and put to rout the hordes of red and white savages who infest the 
frontiers. 

It would be very gratifying to be informed, from time to time, of 
the real state of things in camp, and what progress (if any) the 
Northwestern army is making. The various and contradictory 
reports afloat here (perhaps designed to sport with and harass our 
feelings) leaves the mind in a perpetual state of anxiety and pain. 

I am, sir, your Excellency's obedient and humble servant, 

J. Van Horne. 
To Governor E. J. Meigs. 



Corre^ondeiwe^ 1818. 200 



Upper Sandusky, 22<1 July, 1.S13, | 
10 o'clock/ p. M. i 

Df'itr Sir: — Mr. Oliver this moment arrived from Fort Meij^s 
with :i verbal messa;;e from General Clay to Major (leneral Harri- 
son, inlormini,' him that the British and Indians have iigu'm besieged 
that place. Tliey were discovered on the opposite side of the river 
yesterday morning, 21st instant, after reveille. The Indians had 
crossed over in the night, and had sueeeeded in killing and taking 
off seven of the picket guard. The force lauded from the gunboats, 
and in view of the fort, was estimated at one thousand five hundred 
British troops, besides those that had taken their jwsition in the 
night. Early last night the enemy took possession of the ]ioint on 
this side of the river, two hundred yards below the fort, where they 
were erecting batteries. Our initteries oj)ened yesterday Tuorning, 
and we heard several guns this evening. Ten or twelve boats, lour 
of them rigged, were in view of the fort when Mr. Oliver left there. 
I left General Harrison this morning', at Lower Sandusky. He has 
five thousand regulars and one hundred militia with him, and Colo- 
nel Paul is within twenty-two miles of headipiarters, with live 
hundred regulars; and there are one huiulred of the tweiity-fdurth 
regiment at Fort Ball. 

I am, sir, with great respect, 

Your most obedient servant, 

J. C. Bartlett, Q. M. a. 
To Brigadier General Lewis Cass. 



To Ilis Excellency H. J. Meigs, Governor of the State of Ohio : 

Mdji il please your Excellency : — The undersigned inhabitants and 
.settlers on the plains of Lower Sandusky< on the reservation madi- 
by the otiicial agents of the United States, sanctioned by govern- 
ment, beg leave to humbly represent their present situation, and 
their future hopes. 

In the first instance, B. F. .Stick ney, Es<|., as Indian Agent, has 
denied us the right or privilege of settling on this ground, antl he 
has even proceeded so far that he has actually instructed General 
Gano, our present commandant, to dispossess us of our present 
inheritance. 

Many of us whose signatures are annexed to this, have been 
severe sufferers since the Ci)mmencement of the i)resent war. and 
even ]irior to the declaration thereof. 

Without H'llection on the ji.ist, and willing to undergo and 
encounter any ditliculty which may ensue, we humbly beg leave- 
to remain as wo now do, in the ])eaceable possession of our cabins, 
unmolested by the interference of any man save him who at present 
eommands us, and to whose orders we pledge ourselves at all times, 
aiul in anv emergency, to be subservient. The advantages resulting 

15 



210 Corres'pondence^ 1813. 



from a settlement of this kind, and at a time, too, when the fruits 
of onr kibor cannot be wanting, need not be recited for your Excel- 
lency's information. 

We do not, neither can we, attempt to claim any legal right to the 
ground or spot of earth on which we have each and individually 
settled. But the improvements which we have made, and the 
buildings which we have erected, we trust will Jiot be taken from us 
without the interference of legal authority. 

To you, sir, as our friend^ our henefoctoi\ and our Governor^ we 
have made this appeal in the hope and expectation that it may merit 
your Excellency's attention, by a set of subjects whose hearts are 
warmed towards you, and whose breasts will be unbared for you at 
our country's call. 

Permission to build has been granted by General Gano to those 
who have erected cabins since Ijis arrival, and with pride and 
pleasure we acknowledge his favor and friendship. We remain your 
Excellency's most obedient and very humble servants, 

George Bean, 
Geo. Ermatinc^ton, 
^.'^. Post, 
Asa Stoddard, 
Israel Harrinuton, 
Morris A. ISTewaian. 
R. LooMis, 
Jesse Skinner, 
AViLLiAM Leach, 
Walter Brarrook, 
Louis Moshelle, 
Wm. Hamilton, 
Lewis Geaneaij, 
Patrick Chess. 
Lower Sandusky, December 21st, 1813. 



Headquarters Ohio Militia, [ 

Lower Sandusky, January 16th, 1814. \ 

Dear Sir : — I have the pleasure to inform you that after repeated 
solicitations, and much delay, the paymaster has succeeded in 
obtaining two months' pay for the troops under my command. I 
have sent him on to Detroit, as the men there are in great want 
of money to purchase necessaries, etc. 

Yesterday the Lieutenant and Surgeon of the Navy, Champlain 
and Eastman, left this post for Put-in-Bay. They arrived the even- 
ing before, and report they have everything arranged to give tlie 
enemy a warm reception, should they visit them. About forty pieces 
of cannon can be brought to play upon them at any point. I tlud, 
however, they want men. I shall send in the regulars from Seneca, 



Corr€82)onden€e^ 1 n 1 .'{. iM 1 



as soon as possible, to reinforce them, wliich is tibsoliitely necessary 
IVoD) the Lieuti'iumt's repri-sentatioiKS to me. Wc have not had the 
detailed arcoiuit IVom Hutt'alo, ete. Majors \ aiic*- and Meek iiave 
just arriveil from Detroit, aiiil give me a lavurabk' accoiinf rnim 
that (luartt-r as to the exertions of Colonel Biitler, to whom 1 &i-nt 
Major N'anee as an express. There is a detaehmcnt under Mjijor 
Smiley, up the river Thames, who will, I hope, Tare better Mian 
Larwill. The militia are very tired of the service there, and all are 
beginning to count days. They have iiad an immense deal of 
fatigue and severe duty to perform. The fort at Portage is progress- 
ing, and is the best piece of work in the Western country as to 
strength. The men draw the timber to admiration — eighty or 
ninety logs a day without a murmur. The teams have been, and 
are useless for want of forage. The greatest part have actually died. 
I wrote in November to Quartermaster Gardiner ior funds to lie sent 
to the Quartermaster's assistant here to i)urcha.se forage, which 
could have been ol)tained two or three hundred miles from lure. 
If three hundred dollars coukl have been sent on, 1 think it would 
have saved the United States three thousand ; and I :issure you I 
have used every exertion to preserve and protect the public jtroperty. 
As I before observed, notiiing will induce the militia to remain alter 
their term of service expires, which will be the last of next 
month, is there any information from tieneral Harrison or the 
Secretary of War on this subject? I am only anxious on account 
of the ])ublic property that may be left exposed. 1 have this post 
in a tolerable state of defence, as Mell as all the posts 1 command, 
which, you know, are scattered from Dan to Beersheba ; and each 
must rely on its own strength for its defence. I have had an 
immense detail business in communication, etc. Flour is very 
scarce at all tile frontier posts. I have been between "hawk and 
buzzard" — the commissary and contractor; and between the two, 
as is usual, must fail. What a wretched system of warfare ! From 
the best information I can collect, it is my opinion we shall have a 
warm spring. I have in reserve much to say when we have an 
interview. I have had some severe chills and fevers, but have recov- 
ered, and make it a point to have the men attended to as well as 
possible. It is allowed that the troops here exercise ami maueuvre 
e(|ual to the regulars, and are very orderly. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect, 

Your most obedient and humble servant, 

John S. Gano. 
To His Excclleucv U. J. Meigs. 

P. S. — Six o'clock, r. m. — An express l)y a naval oilicer ha.- 
just arrived from Erie. Lieutenant Packet has given me a full 
account of the loss of the posts below, at Niagara. The enemy 
possessed themselves of the artillery, military stores, etc., etc., to a 
large amount; and there is no iloubt bul an attempt to Uike or 
destroy the vessels at Put-iu-Bay will be attempted, and Captain 



312 Correspondence^ 1814. 

Klliott has requested a reinforcement of two hundred men to send 
to the Island, which I have not the power to furnish. I have 
ordered about thirty regulars from Seneca, and will send a few 
militia. My troops are so scattered, I have no disposable force 
without evacuating some of the posts that contain considerable 
military stores. I wrote some time since to General Harrison, 
recommending him to send on the recruits. They certainly will 
he wanted as soon as the British can move on the ice or by water to 
Detroit or the Islands. I fear we shall lose all that has been gained, 
unless great exertions are used to reinforce; and supjaly of provi- 
sions is much wanted. John S. Gang. 



[Confidential.] 
Chillicothe, December 13th, ltsl4. 

Sir : — With serious concern for the safety of the Northwestern 
frontier, I have the honor to submit to your consideration, and that 
of the Legislature of Ohio, a statement in relation to the situation 
of aifairs in this district. 

The contractor failed in November to supply the troops at Detroit 
with the Hour part of the ration, and they are now subsisting upon 
the immediate resources of the adjacent country. The advanced 
state of the season precludes the hope that any flour can be 
forwarded by lake transportation, should it have been collected at 
Erie, of which there is no authentic account. A considerable 
supply is reported by the contractor to be in readiness, to be taken 
down the ISt. Mary's and Miami of tlie lake as soon as practicable, 
of which there can be no certainty until April. 

Three or four thousand hogs are reported by the contractor to be 
in readiness to proceed to Detroit by the route of the Auglaize, and 
Mull's road. Subsequent information as to the number collected, 
and the price allowed to sub-contractors, induces a belief that not 
more than one thousand will reach that place. These facts have 
been communicated to the government, with a request that funds 
might be transmitted to this place to enable a special commissary to 
endeavor to supply the troops of the frontiei-. There is reason to 
jjresume that a delay for an arrangement of this kind would be fatal ; 
more especially as it is the intention of the government to increase 
the military force of the Northwestern frontier. I have, therefore, to 
request of your Excellency to solicit the Legislature of Ohio to aid 
the United States in effecting this important object in such' a man- 
ne)' as they, in their wisdom, may deem most expedient. 

The loan of thirty thousand dollars would probably enable a per- 
son duly authorized to forward to Detroit, by the way of Sandusky, 
five hundred barrels of Hour, and fifteen hundred hogs. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Duncan McAkthue, 

Brig. Gen. D. S. Army CmncCg. 
His Excellency Thomas Worthington, Governor of Ohio. 



Correqnmdence, 1 S 1 4. •_> 1 :\ 

CniLLicoTHE, Dt'cenibcM- i:Ul), 1811. 

,sV;-; — I liail tli'- honor to roeeivL' this evening yonr confitU'iilial 
coniinnnifiition of even diito herewith, and will to-morrow morniii;^ 
conininiiicalo copies of it to both Ijranchcs of the Legislature. 

Very respectfully, 

T. W0KTlIIN'<iT<JN. 

Cieneral McArthur. eoninuuuling 8th Military District. 



[Contiileutial.J 

('uriJ.K'oTHK. Itlil DeeenilMT, 1M14. 
Gentlemen ot tlie House of Hepresentatives : 

I send you co|)ies of a conlidential coniniunication of Hrigudiei- 
General Duncan McArthur, eoniniaiiding the ^th Military District, 
from which you will perceive the situation of the posts on the 
Northwestern frontier. Should (he United States fail to supply 
these posts, and no other ])rovision ho made to support them, they 
must inevitahly fall inio the liands of the enemy before the oi>ening 
of the next campaign. Such a state of things would lay tlie whole 
frontier of Ohio open to the incursions of the enemy. With this 
view of the subject, T cannot iiesitate to recommend to the Legis- 
lature to furnisli, with the least possible delay, tlie means to supply 
these posts, believing they will in this way save both the blood and 
treasure of the State. 

I cannot hesitate in believing the (Jenerai (iovernment will take the 
earliest opportunity to refund the amount which may be advanced 
for the conteinitlated object. 

\'ery resi)ectfnlly, 

T. WORTHINGTOX. 



As a titling clo.se of this chai)ter, it is not deemed inappropriate 
to again introduce, by way of most i>k'asant corroborative testimony 
regarding the sieges of Fort Meigs, the name of the brave and patri- 
otic Keiituckian. (fcneval fjeslie Coombs, who, in a speech nuule at 
a jiioneer celebration at Cincinnati, on the Uh of July, 1871, said : 

In commencing his address, the speaker referred to having re- 
ceived a letter from the Secretary of the Pioneer Association, re(|uest- 
ing him to attend their meeting on the Fourth of .Inly, and deliver an 
address before tlnni. In ancient Konu', when a man has served his 
<'ountry for a term of twenty years, he was adjudged a veteran, and 
discharged from further service, but here he had l)een serving his 
hearers and the public, as a man and boy, for lifty-eight years, with- 
out either pay i>r promotion, and yet lie could not obtain a discharge 
from serving them still, but had been asked to speak today before 



214 Speech of General Leslie Coombs. 



these young ladies and gentlemen, who call themselves Pioneers, and 
have organized themselves into a society for reminiscences. [Langli- 
ter.J 

And some of us have already begun to show marks of time upon 
us. Even this boy (turning to the venerable Major Gano) has 
grown up to a man and has become slightly gray since I knew him, 
iiovv fifty years ago, [laughter], while I retain without dye the black 
hair I had in my youth, and still eat my food with a good appetite, 
using the set of teeth unimpaired with which I was endowed by 
nature. 

The speaker then said that he would refer in the course of his 
address to occurrences which took place fifty- eight ypars ago, at the 
time the war of 1812-13 was in progress between this country and 
Great Britain. In its cause, we people of the West had but little 
in teres u. It was a war waged for free trade and sailors' rights, 
and we people here had little or no interest in either. The matter 
of free trade or high tariff affected the cost of our merchandise by 
the time it got here, after being packed across the Alleghenies on 
I he backs of mules and pack-horses, while as to sailors' rights, here, 
on our inland river, we never saw a sailor, and scarce knew what 
one looked like. However, when the tocsin of war was sounded, the 
West responded promptly and nobly. War was declared on the IStli 
of June, 1812. At that time our northern frontier was defended 
by three regiments of Ohio volunteers, serving under Generals Mc- 
Arthur, Findlay and Cass, while a fourth one of auxiliary forces 
was under the command of General Tupper. Kentucky speedily 
raised five thousand five hundred volunteers, part of whom liad their 
rendezvous at Georgetown. On the 1 6th of August, the very day that 
Hull made his disgraceful surrender of Detroit, they were addressed 
by Governor Scott and Henry Clay and set out from Georgetown on 
their road to Canada, stopping first at Cincinnati. Here the news 
reached them of Hull's surrender. They then at once set out for 
the Northwest, making Detroit their first point for an attack. The 
Ohio troops had but a line of small forts along the I'oute they had 
traversed, and it was the intention of the officers to make them 
stopping points on the journey northward. We then had a small 
garrison at Mackinac, another at Detroit, and still another at a 
point on Lake Michigan, where the speaker had been told that a tol- 
erably-sized village, called Chicago, had since been built. Since its 
occupation at that time the place had grown somewhat famous as a 
point whence considerable wheat is shipped. 

Besides this, we had Forts Wayne and Harrison, both of them 
feeblv protected only by small garrisons. Piqua was then on the 
frontier of the Northwest, while the most northeasterly point was 
Mansfield. Beyond there the country was an unbroken wilderness. 
The Shawanee "Indians had a town wheie Waupaughkonnetta now 
stands. That was the town of Tecumseh and of Logan. It was 
while General Harrison was encamped here that a young man of 



Speerli of (iciieval Leslie Coombs. ■l\:^ 



tliis fity. wild had a store in Fort Wayiu', canif to him. It appears 
he had lieard of Huir.s surrender, and asked Harrison to notify the 
Fort Wayne fjarrison of tlie occurrence and send it reinforci-inents. 
(Jeneral JIarrison urged that no one could be got to undertake a 
journey so hazardous. ''Fll go," said the man, "if any one man 
will go with me:' Logan, the Indian chief, went with him through 
that one hundred miles of trackless wilderness, and when they <rot 
there they found "E Pluribus I^num" still floating from the flag- 
staff. Harrison speedily came to their relief. That man who went 
through the trackless forest with Logan was Major William Oliver, 
of Cincinnati. 

Hut all this was before the speaker had taken an active ]»art in 
the war. He was the baby boy at home, and his mother was reluct- 
ant to let him go. as he bad already two brothers in tiie service. 
And it was not until Hull's surn-nder had taken place thai he laially 
obtained her consent and started out. When he reached Piqua In- 
found a small detachment of Kentucky militia. In company with 
four companies he started for Fort Wayne. This was at a time 
when there were no railroads, and the roads over which our pack- 
horses had to transport our supplies were so bad that the next siiring 
you could trace (hem by the turkey-buzzards feeding on the horses 
which had died from exhaustion. Once we went for fiftei-n days 
without a morsel of bread. We had meat-]iork that was not so fat 
as it grows now — and beef from cattle that wen- so delicate in body 
that it was a standing joke with otir butcher to ask the !)oys to conu' 
and hold u]> a steer while he shot him. [Laughter.] When he got 
there he was appointed as a cadet under the command of C'olonel 
Scott, and as such served during the first campaign. 

It was after this, while we were encamped l»elovv Fort Defiance, 
(hat iiOgan came into camp one morning. with two other Indians. 
Some one had told him that the white men doubted him and thought 
he was th<' friend of the British. He said : '' You shall doubt me 
no more. I will go to the Rapids to-morrow, and bring back with 
Hie either a prisoner or a scalp, or else I shall lose my own." They 
then passed out betwet-n the si)eaker and his fellow-guardsmen. 
The next night about midnight they returned, and Logan was 
wounded bv a ball. 'IMiey had been toward the Uai)ids and re- 
tururd. We sent L »gan up to the ipiarters, where the ball was 
I'xd-aeti'd from his body, but In* shortly died. We had but one horse 
in (Ik' entire camp at that tim(\ .so we fixed up a rude sled, and lay- 
ing Logan's body on it. six otMcers dragged it over the snow up to 
Fort Defiance, where they buried him, to keep him from being dug 
up and scal])e(l l)y the hostile Indians. 

On the 2(itb of Deceml)er our troops were without their winter 
clothing. Hut few of them had shoes of any kind, and th<^ only kind 
any of them had were moccasin.s made from the skins of animals 
with (he hair left inside. General Winchester had decided to move 
over to the liajiids, where Fort Meigs was afterwards situated, and 



216 Speech of General Leslie Coombs. 



wanted to notify General Harrison of liis departure to enable him to 
send troops and supplies to him at his new head-quarters. This 
information it was necessary should be borne to General Harrison, 
and a young man who was with General Winchester volunteered to 
bear it. That young man now stands before you, and tells the story. 
[Cheers.] It was a terrible trip. Accompanied by a guide, we were 
nine days on the road, plodding through the rough snow two feet 
deep, and for three of those days we were without a mouthful of 
food. General Winchester had given a verbal message to your 
speaker, fearing that he might be taken prisoner or killed, and if 
written messages w^ere found upon him their plans be revealed. 
That message was to the effect that General Winchester had on that 
very day started down to the Rapids, where he would fortify him- 
self and remain nntil reinforced. The speaker then recounted at 
some length his return to the Rapids, and the reception of the news 
of the first and second battles of the Raisin — the former a victory, 
the latter a defeat, and his subseqnent visit to liis home for the pur- 
pose, as he told his mother, of procuring a clean shirt! His return 
and the interview with General Clay at Dayton, Ohio, were next 
referred to. 

While they were at Old Deliance, on the Auglaize, an express 
reached them that General Harrison was at Fort Meigs, and daily 
expecting an attack. General Clay at once called a council of offi- 
cers, and it was decided that some one should set out at once to 
inform Harrison that they were on the road to relieve him. The 
speaker was captain of the spies by appointment, and he thought it 
was his duty to go on this errand. So he said if they would give 
him a good canoe he would undertake to go. He had four white 
men — two men named Walker, and Paxton and Johnson— and a 
young Shawanee Indian named Black Fish, as his companions in the 
"undertaking. As they started off. Major Shelby said : " Remember, 
Captain Coombs, if we ever meet again, that it was just six o'clock 
when you left." The progress down the Rapids they fonnd by no 
means difficult. " It was," said the speakej-, '' rather like catching 
a man by the heels and pulling him down stairs." Black Fish was 
in the stern with a steering oar, he was in the bow looking out for 
the course of the stream and watching for any surprise, while the 
other four took turns of two each with the side oars. They had gone 
down the stream some fifty miles, part of the way in imminent 
danger of being swallowed in the rapids, and were apin-oaching 
Roche Debceuf,"a small fall about seven or eight miles from the 
fort, when Jo. Paxton said, " Captain, let us land and take it afoot. 
I would rather be scalped by the Indians than drowned in this d — d 
river." They did not take this advice, however, but kept on in the 
canoe. 

It was morning before they reached the last bend of the river ; 
and when it had been passed, and they saw the fort before them, 
and floating from its mast, not the white rag of disgrace, but " E 



S2)€ec1h of Gent'i-al Ijenlif Coomhx. 217 



IMuribus Union," with the seventcf n .stars, thtv ^mvc ii «^ranil cliecr. 
I Applause. I At first tliey saw only a solitary liidian »jn our side 
»>r thf rivt-r. l>ut a moment later tho woods sfenicd lo swarm with 
them. At once they cojiimenccd to fire upon him, and Johnson 
was shot through the body, mortally wounded, and .To. I'axton 
wounded. At hist the Indians cut off all hope of their reaching 
Harrison, and they turned the canoe to the liritish shore. Here Pax- 
ton w;is taken prisoner, and tlie speaker set out on loot and reacliec^ 
l''ort Detiauce on the 3d of May. Afterward when he met Paxton, 
and wa- talking the event over with him, Jo. Paxton said it would 
have tiiken a peck of bullets to kill him when he saw the flag living 
over Fort Meigs tluit morning 

When (Jeneral Clay arrived at the head of tlie rapids, he found 
Oliver, the Cincinnati man he had spoken of, n.iw a Captain, ready 
to start out (HI the sann- errand from which he had just returtied. 
lie did this, and brouirht back orders from General Harrison to land 
on the liiitish side, spike their guns, run the gun carriages down 
the bank, and wlien this was accomplished, make a general assault. 
The speaker, with his company of sjiies, was sent out as soon as thev 
laiuled, and the lirst music he heard was the whistling of bullets 
li-iin the Indians, when, forming into line, they charged uj)on their 
dusky foes and soon put them to rout. Following them some distance, 
they Were reinforced, and the company was forced to retire, with 
orders to lorm again at the batteries, liut the batteries had been 
taken by -the British, and they soon (ound tiiemselves prisoners. 

On their making a surrender, they were marched oft" to Old Fort 
Maiimee, in front of which the Indians were ranged, and where the 
captives were compelled to rnn the gauntlet to reach their place of 
imprisonment. Here it was that he lirst saw the gallant Tecumseh, 
who came at their hour of peril and saved them all from massacre. 
Alter being released on parole by the British, he returned home by 
the Scioto to the Ohio river. 



• CHAPTER I IT. 

IKDIAN TREATIES. 

It is deemed a matter of importance to embody such provisions 
of tlie Indian treaties as embrace lands within the valley of the 
Maumee and regions immediately adjacent. They constitute such 
valuable landmarks in Western history, and bear such close relations 
to the Indian wars, and the efforts of European races to establish 
their religion and civilization among the aboriginal tribes, that they 
fnid a proper place in a work of this character. 

Among these treaties, the onv made at Cireenville in 1705 will 
att'-act marked attention. In tliis negotiation, (ieneral Wayne 
exhibited that iie possessed traits of diplomacy and statesmanship 
which shone as conspicuously as his achievements at the head of 
armies — brilliant as those achievements were. His sagacity led him 
to include within the sixteen cessions, located from each othei* at 
immense distances, and distributed over an extensive area of wilder- 
ness country, the lands upon which are now established those great 
centres of commerce, Chicago, O.'troit, Toledo and Fort Wayne. 
His foresight was also manifest in s(^curing a free passage, l)y land 
and by water, through the Indian country, that communication 
might not be interrupted. 

By the articles of a treaty concliuled at Fort Mcintosh, 21st of 
January, 17S5, between United States "Commissioners Plenipoten- 
tiary, of the one part, and the Sachems and Warriors of the Wian- 
dot, Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa Nations of the other," the 
United States granted peace to said tribes on certain conditions; 
among which were those mentioned in the following: 

SIX MILES SQUARE AT THE MOUTH OF THE MAUMEE, AND SAN- 
DUSKY RESERVATIONS. 

'•Article IV. The United States allot all the lands contained 
within the said lines to the Wiandot and Delaware nations, to live 
and to hunt on, and to such of the Ottawa nation as now live 



Treaty at Fort Mrlntn.^h, 1785. 1>H» 



thereon ; suviiifj and reservinf}^ for the establishment of tradini^ 
posts, six miles S(|nare at the mouth of Miami or Omee river, and 
liu- same at the portage on tliat branch of the Big Miami, which 
runs into the Ohio, and the same on tlie lake of Sanduske, where 
the lort formerly stood, and also two miles s<|uare on each side of 
the lowtr rapids of Sanduske river, which posts and the lands 
annexed to them, shall be to the use and uinl'i- the government of 
the United States." 

DETUOIT UISTJiKT ICESKRV l.l», 

AiiT. \ II. The post of Detroit, with a district beginning at the 
mouth of the river Rosine, on the west end of Lake Erie, and 
running wist six miles up the southern bank of the said river: 
thence nortlurly, and always six miles west of the strait, till it 
strikes the Lake St. Clair, shall be also reserved to the sole use of 
the United States." 

A treaty was made at l-'oi't Haiinar, January Wtli, 1 'Hit, lietween 
Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the territory of the United States 
northwest of the river Ohio, and the Sachems and Warriors cd" 
the Wyandot, Delaware, Ottawa, C'hi])pewa, Pottawatima and Sac 
Nations on the other part. 

By the terms of this treaty, the Ixmndary line between the United 
States and said nation* was bounded as follows : *' Beginning at the 
mouth of the Cuyahoga river, and running thence u]> the said river 
to the jwrtage between that and the Tuscarawa branch of the Mus- 
kingum: then down the said l)ranch to the forks at the crossing place 
above Fort Lawrence: thence westerly to the portage on that branch 
of the Big Miami river which runs into the Ohio, at the mouth of 
which branch the fort stood, which was taken by the French in the 
year A. D. 1752 ; thence along the said portage to the Great Miami or 
Omee river, and down the southeast side of the same to its mouth : 
thence along the southern shore of fiuke Erie to the mouth of Cuya- 
hoga, where it began." 

AuT. X renewed the reservations *' heretofori- nnide in the before- 
mentioned treaty of Fort ^^cLltosh, for the establishment of trading 
posts, in manner aiid form following: that is to say: Six miles 
sfpiare at the mouth of the Miami or Omee river: six miles sfjuare 
at the ])orfage upon that branch of the Miami which runs into the 
Ohio; six miles stjuare ujion the Lake Samlusky, where the fort 
formerly stood ; and two miles square upon eacli side of the lower 



220 Ireaty at Fort Harmar, 1*789. 

rapids on Sandusky river ; which posts, and the lands annexed to 
them, shall be for the use and under the government of the United 
States.'" 

Art. XI reaftirmed the provisions of the seventh article of the 
treaty of Fort Mcintosh, which reserved the district of Detroit, 
beginning at the month of the river " Rosine," at the west end of 
Lake Erie, etc. 

Appended to this treaty is the following declaration: 

" Be U remembered, that the Wyandots have laid claim to the 
lands that were granted to the Hhawauese, at the treaty held at the 
Miami, and have declared that as tlie Shawanese have been so rest- 
less, and caused so much trouble, lioth to them and the United 
States, if they will not now be at peace, they will dispossess them, 
and take the country into their oAvn hands ; for that the country is 
theirs of right, and the Shawanese are only living upon it by their 
permission. They further lay claim to all the country west of the 
Miami boundary, from the village to Lake Erie, and declare that it 
is now under tlieir management and direction.'' 

And a " separate article " in the same treaty is in the following 
words : 

"Whereas, the Wyandots have represented, that within the reser- 
vation from the river Eosine along the strait, they have two villages, 
from which they cannot with any convenience remove ; it is agreed 
that they shall remain in possessi'))i of the same, and shall not be in 
anv manner disturbed therein.'' 



A Treaty of Peace Between the United States of America, and tlie Tribes of 
Indians called tlie Wyandots, Delawares, Shawauoes, Ottawa*, Chippe- 
was, Putawatimes, Miamis. Eel River, Weeas, Kickapoos, Piankashaws, 
and Kaskaskias. 

To put an end to a destructive war, to settle all controversies, and 
to restore harmony and friendly intercourse between the said United 
States and Indian tribes :—Anthoxy Wayne, Major General com- 
manding the army of the United States, and sole commissioner for 
the good purposes above-mentioned, and the said tribes of Indians, 
by their Sachems, Ohieis and Warriors, met together at Greenville? 
the headquarters of the said army, have agreed on the following 
articles, which, when ratitied by the President, with the advice and 



Treaty at Fort GreenrilU, 170:""). '2'2\ 



consent <»l ihc- ^^."ll:lle of the United States, shall be bincUnj,' on 
tlu'iii ami tiu' t-aiil Indian tribes. 

Aktr'LK I. IkiKTlbrth all hostilities shall cease; peace is hereby 
established, and shall be perpetual; jmuI m friendly intercourse shall 
take place between the said Uwitcd States and Indian tribes. 

AuT. II. All prisoners shall on lioth sides l)e restored. Tlie 
Indians, prisoners to the United States, shall inmiediately be set at 
liberty. The people of the United States, still remaining prisoners 
among the Indians, shall be delivered np in ninety days from the 
date hereof, to the general or commanding otticer at Greenville. Fort 
Wayne or Fort Defiance; and ten chiefs of the said tribes shall 
remain at Greenville as hostages until the delivery of the i)risoners 
shall be effected. 

Art. III. The general boundary line between the lands of the 
United States, and the lands of said Indian tribes, shall begin at 
the mouth of Cuyahoga river, and run thence up the same to the 
portage between that and the Tu.searawa.s branch of the Mus- 
kingum : thence down tluit branch to the crossing place above Fort 
Lawrence ; thence westerly to a fork of that branch of the Great 
Miami river running into the Ohio, at or near which fork stood 
Loromie's store, and where commences the portage between the 
Miami of the Ohio and St. Mary's river, which is a branch of the 
Miami which runs into Lake Frie ; thence a westerly course to Fort 
Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wai>asli ; thence south- 
westerly in a direct line to the Ohio, so as to inter.sect that river oppo- 
site the mouth of Kentucke or Cut tawa river. And iji consideration 
of the peace now established; of the goods formerly received from the 
United Stales: of those now (o be delivered, and of the yearly 
delivery of goods now stipulated to be made hereafter; and to indem- 
nify the United States bu- the injuries and expenses they have 
sustained during the war; the said Indian tribes do hereby cede 
and relintjuish forever, all their claims to the lands lying eastwaruly 
and southwarilly of the general boundary line now described ; and 
these lands, or any part of theuj, shall never hereafter be made a 
cause or pretence, on the i)art of the said tribes or any of them, of 
war or injury to the United Statei, or any of the peojile thereof. 

And for the saine considerations, ami as an evidence of the 
returning friendship of the said Indian tribes, of their confidence in 
the United Stiites, and desire to provide for their accommodation. 



222 TreaVy at Fort Greenville, 1795. 

and for tliat convenient interconrse, which will be beneficial to both 
parties, the said Indian tribes do also cede to the United States the 
following pieces of land, to-wit : 1. One piece of land six miles 
sqnare at or near Loromie's store before-mentioned. 2. One piece 
two miles sqnare at the head of the navigable water or landing on 
the St. Mary's rivei-, near G'rty's town. 3. One piece six miles 
sqnare at the head of the navigable water of the Au-Glaize river. 4- 
One piece six miles sqnare at the confluence of the An-Glaize and 
Miami rivers, where Port Defiance now stands. 5. One piece six 
miles square at or near the confluence of the rivers St. Mary's and. 
St. Joseph's, where Fort Wayne now stands, or near it. ti. One 
piece two miles s(;nare on the Wabash river, at the end of tiie 
portage from the Miami of the Lake, and about eight miles west- 
v/ard from Fort Wayne. 7. One piece six miles square at the 
Ouatanon or old Weea towns, on the Wabash river. S. One piece 
twelve miles S(iuarc at the British fort on the Miami of the Lake, 
at the foot of the rapids. 9. One piece six miles square at the 
mouth of said river, where it empties into the lake. 10. One piece 
six miles sqnare upon Sandusky Lake, where a fort formerly stood. 
IL One piece two miles square at the lower rapids of Sandusky 
river. 12. The !)ost of Detroit, and all the land to the north, the 
west and the south of it, of which the Lidian title has been extin- 
guished by gifts or grants to the French or English governments ; 
and so much more land to be annexed to the district of Detroit, as 
shall be comprehended between the river Kosine on the south. Lake 
St. Clair on the north, and a line, the general course whereof shall 
be six miles distant from the west end of Lake Erie and Detroit 
river. 13. The of post Michillimackinac, and all the land on the 
island on which that post stands, and the main land adjacent, of 
which the English title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to 
the French or English governments; and a piece of land on the 
main to the north of the island, to measure six miles on Lake 
Huron, or the strait between Lakes Huron and Michigan, and to 
extend three miles back from the water of the lake or strait, and 
also the island of De Bois Blanc, being an extra or voluntary gift of 
the Chippewa nation. 14. One piece of land six miles square at the 
mouth of Chikago river, emptying into the southwest end of Lake 
Michigan, where a fort formerly stood. 15. One piece twelve miles 
square at or near the mouth of the Illinois river, emptying into tlie 
Mississippi. 10. One piece six miles square at the old Piorias Fort 



Ireat)/ at Fort Oreenrille, 17*.>5. 223 

and village, near the south end of the Illinois Lake on said Illinois 
riwr: And whenever the United States shall think proper to survey 
and mark tlu- boundaries of the lands hereby ceded to them, they 
shall give timely notice thereof to the said tribes of Indians, that 
they may appoint some of their wise chiefs to attend and see that 
the TiMi-.s are run according to the terms of this treaty. 

And the said Indian tribi-s will allow to the people of the United 
.States a free passage by himl and by water, as one and the other 
shall be found convenient, thmugh their country, along the chain 
of posts hereinbefore mentioned; that is to say, from the commence- 
ment of the portage aforesaid at or near Jjoromie's store, thence 
along said port^ige to the St. Mary's, and down the same to Fort 
Wayne, and then down the Miami to Lake Erie: again from the 
commencement of the portage at or near Ijoromie's store along the 
portage from thence to the river Au-Glaize, and down the same to its 
junction with the Miami at Fort Deliance: again Irom the com- 
mencement of the portage aforesaid, to Sandusky river, and down 
the same to Sandusky Bay and Lake Krie, and from Sandusky to the 
the post which shall be taken at or near the foot of the rapids of the 
Miami of the Lake: and from thence to Detroit. Again, from the 
mouth of the Chikago to the commencement of the portage between 
that river and the Illinois, and down the Illinois river to the Missis- 
sii)pi ; also from Fort Wayne along the portage aforesaid, which 
leads to the Wabash, and tiien down the Wabash to the Ohio. And 
the said Indian tribes will also allow t<t the people of the United 
States the free use of the harbors and mouths of rivers alouf' the 
lakes adjoining the Indian lands, for sheltering vesse'ls and boats, 
and liberty to land their cargoes where necessary for tiieir safety. 

Art. I\^ In consideration of the peace now established, and of 
the cessions and reliuiiuishments of lands made in the preceding 
article by the said tribes of Indians, and to manifest the liberality 
of the United States, as the great means of rendering this peace 
strong and perpetual; the United States relin<|uish their claims to 
all othei«Iiulian lands northward of the river Ohio, eastward of the 
Mississippi, and westward and southward ol the great lakes and the 
waters uniting them, according to the boundary line agreed ujum 
by the United States and the King of Great Britain, in the treaty 
of ]ieace made between them in the year 1783. But from this relin- 
i|uishment l»y the L^^nited Strifes, the following tracts of land are 
explicitly excepted: 1st. The tract of one hundred and lity tlioii- 



224 Treaty at Fort Greenville, 1795. 

sand acres near the rapids of the Ohio river, which has been 
assigned to (leneral CUark, for the nse of himself and liis warriors. 
2d. Tlie post of St. Vincennes, on the river Wabash, and the lauds 
a-^ljacent, of which the Indian title has been extingnished. 3d. The 
lands at all other places in possession of the French people and 
other white settlers among them, of which the Indian title has been 
extingnished, as niejitioned in the third article; and 4th. The post 
of Fort Massac towards the mouth of the Ohio. To which several 
parcels of land so accepted, the said tribes relinquish all the title 
and claim which they or any of them may have. 

And for the same considerations, and with the same views as 
above mentioned, the United States now deliver to the said Indian 
tribes a quaijtity of goods to the value of 120,000, the receipt 
whereof they do hereby acknowledge ; and henceforward every year 
forever the United States will deliver at some convenient place 
northward of the river Ohio, like useful goods, suited to the circum- 
stances of the Indians, of the value of 19,500; reckoning that value 
at the first cost of the goods in the city or place in the United 
States where they shall be procured. The tribes to which those 
goods are to be annually delivered, and the proportions in which 
they are to be delivered, are the following : [This clause, not deemed 
essential here, Ls omitted.] Provided, that if either of the said tribes 
shall hereafter, at an annual delivery of their share of the goods 
aforesaid, desire that a part of their annuity should be i'lU'nislRMl in 
domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and oLlirr utensils 
convenient for them, and in compensation to useful artificers who 
may reside with or near them, and be employed for their benefit, tlic 
same shall, at the subsequent annual deliveries, be furnishi^l accord- 
ingly. 

Art. V. To prevent any misunderstanding about the Indian lands 
relinquished by the United States, in the fourth article, it is explic- 
itly declared, that the meaning of that relinquishment is this: Tiie 
Indian tribes who have a right to those lands, are quietly to enjoy 
them, hunting, planting, and dwelling thereon so lon^' as they 
please, without any molestation from the United States; but wIrmi 
those tribes, or any of them, shall be disposed to sell their lands, or 
any part of them, they are to be sold only to the United States ; and 
until such sale, the United States will protect all the said Indian 
tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their lands against all citizens of 
the United States, and against all other white persons who intrude 



'rr<(if;/ at Fort ( ht^enville, 1705. 225 

upon the stuiie. And the said Indian tribes again acknowled;,^- 
llii-niselve-s fo he under the ))n»t('etion of the said IJnitrd Stalen, and 
no nthtT i>()\vci' whatt'Vrr. 

AitT. \'J. If any citizen of the United Slate.s, or any other whitt^ 
person or per.sons, .shall presume to settle upon the huul.s now relin- 
quished by the rnit<'d States, sueh citizen or other person shall li> 
out of the protection of the Tnited States: and the Indian trilje, 
on whose land the settlement shall be made, may drive off the settler, 
or punish him in such manner as they shall think li( ; anil V)ecause 
such settlement made without the consent of the United States, 
will be injurious to them, as well as to the Indians, the United 
States shall be at liberty to break them up, and remove and punish 
the settlers as (hey shall think jjroper, and so eflect that protection 
of the Indian lanils hereinbefore stipulated. 

Airr. \'II. 'The said tribes of Indians, parties to this treaty, shall 
be at liberty to hunt within the territory ami lands which they have 
now ceded to the United States, without hindrance or nK^lestation. 
so long as they demean themselves peaceably, and offer no injury 1o 
the people of the United States. 

Akt. \'1II. Trade shall be oi)ened with the said Indian tribes; and 
they do herel)y respectively engage to alFord protection to such 
persons, with their property, as shall be duly licenseil to reside 
among them for the purpose of trade, and to their agents and 
servants; but no person shall be permitted to reside at any of their 
towns or hunting camps as a trader, who is not furnished with a 
license for that puri)ose, under the hand and seal of the superin- 
tendent of the department northwest of the Ohio, or such other 
person as the President of the United States shall authorize to grant 
such licenses : to the end, that the said Indians may not be imposed 
on in their trade. And if any licensed trader shall abuse his priv- 
ilege by unfair dealing, upor. complaint and proof thereof, his licen.se 
shall be taken from him, and he shall be further punished according 
to the laws of the United States. And if any person shall intrude 
himself jis a trader, without such license, the said Indians shall t^ike 
anil bring him before the superintendent or his deputy, (o be dealt 
with according to law. Ami to prevent imposition bv forgi-d 
licenses, the said Indians shall, at least once a year, give inform;i- 
tion to the superintendent or his deputies, of the nanns of the 
traders residing among them. 

ir, 



226 Treaty at Fort Greenville^ lYOS. 

Art. IX. Lest the firm peace and friendship now established 
should be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals, the United 
States, and the said Indian tribes, agree that, for injuries done by 
individuals on either side, no private revenge or retaliation shal^ 
take place; but instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the 
party injured, to the other: By the said Indian tribes, or any of 
them, to the President of the United States, or the superintendent 
by him appointed; and by the superintendent or other person 
appointed by the President, to the principal chiefs of the said Indian 
tribes, or of the tribe to which the offender belongs: and such pru- 
dent measures shall then be pnrsued as shall be necessary to jjreservf 
the said peace and friendshiji unbroken, until the Legislat^ure (or 
Great Council) of the United States shall make other equitable 
provision in the case, to the satisfaction of ])oth parties. Should 
any Indian tribes meditate a war against the United States, or either 
of them, and the same shall come to the knowledge of the beforemen- 
tioned tribes, or either of them, they do hereby engage to give 
immediate notice thereof to the general cr ofScer commanding 
the troops of the United States, at the nearest post. And should 
any tribe, with hostile intentions against the United States, or 
either of them, attempt to pass through their country, they will 
endeavor to prevent the same, and in like manner give informa- 
tion of such attempt to the general or officer commanding, as soon 
as possible, that all causes of distrust or suspicion may be avoided 
between them and the United States. In like manner the United 
States shall give notice to the said Indian tribes of any harm that 
may be meditated against them, or either of them, that shall come 
to their knowledge ; and do all in their power to hinder and prevent 
the same, that the friendship between them may be uninterrupted. 
Art. X. All other treaties heretofore made between the 
United States and the said Indian tribes, or any of them, since 
the treaty of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, 
that come within the purview of this treaty, shall henceforth cease 
and become void. 

In testimony whereof, the said Anthony Wayne, and the Sachems 
and War-Chiefs of the before-mentioned Nations and Tribes of 
Indians, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals. 
Done at Greenville, in the Territory-of the United States, north- 
west of the river Ohio, on the 3d day of Augst, one thousand 
seven hundred and ninetv-five. 



Treattj at Fori Im/u.^trij. 227 

•' A troaty between the United States and tlie sachems, rliiefs and 
warriors of the Wyandot, Ottawa, Cliippewa antl Munsee, Delaware, 
Shawanee and Pottawatinia nations, was hohlen at Fort Industry, 
Miami of the Lake, on the Itli day of .Iidy A. 1)., !>>();").■ 

lu Article 11. of tliis treaty it is declared that " the liuundary line 
between the United States and tlie nations aforesaid, shall in future 
he a meridian line drawn North and South through a boundary 
to be erccte<l on the south shore of Lake Kric. one hundred and 
twenty Miiies due wcsl of the u c>t boundary line ol' the State of 
Pennsylvania, exlendinii; north luitil it intersects the bounilarv line 
of the I'nili'd States, and extending south until it inlersects a line 
heretofore eslablishcil by the treaty of CTreeuville.'' 

AUT. IIL ''The Indian nations aforesaid, fov the considcratiiui 
of friendship to the United States .md the sums of nnuiey herein- 
after mentioned to be paid ainuiaily U) the Wyandot, Shawanee, 
Munsee an<l Delaware nations, have ceded and do hereby cede and 
relin<|uisli to sai<l United States forever, all the lands J)clonginf to 
said I'nited States lying cast of the aforesaid line, boimded southerly 
and easterly by the line established l»y said treaty of Greenville, 
ami northerly by the northernmost part of the forty-first degree of 
north latitude." 

By this treaty .^1 H.dOO were paid aw^ a [)crpctual annuity of ^1,0(10 
was guaranteed to tlie ditfercnt tribes, parties to it. The sum of 
.^4,()0(( was secured to the I'rcsiilcnt, in trust for them, by tlie Con 
uecticut Land (!ompany and the proprietors of the half million 
acres of lan(L called Sutterers' Land. The same company and pro- 
prietors secured to the President sr*,!lin,(»7 to raise an annuity of 
$1 ;;"), part of sai<l annuity of .SI,0(K». These were the amounts paid 
by the agents of tiie Western Reserve for the cession of the Indian 

lands. 

On the 17th of November, ISd?, a treaty was made .it Detroit 
between " William Mull. Governor of the Territory of Midiigan ar d 
superintendent of Indian affairs on the part of the Ignited States. 
and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Ottoway, Chippewav. 
Wyan<lotte and Pottawatamie nations of Lidians on the other j)art." 
Under this treaty the following described lands were ceded to 
the United States: '* BeginniTig at the mouth of the ]Miami Kiv.r 
of the Lakes and running thence up the middle thereof to the mouth 
of the Great Au Glaize Hiver; thence running due north until it in- 
tersects a parallel of latitude, to be drawn from the outlet of Lake 



228 Treaty at Detroit, 1807. 



Huron, which forms the River Siuclair; thence running northeast? 
the course that may be found \\\\\ lead in a direct line to White 
Roclc, in Lake Huron; thence due east imtil it intersects the 
boundary line between tlie United States and Upper Canada, in 
said lake; thence southerly, iollowir;]:: the said boundary line down 
said lake, through River Sinclair, Lake St. Clair and the River 
Detroit into Lake Erie to a point due cast of the aforesaid Miami 
River; thence west to the place of beginning."' The Indians also 
reserved in this treaty, " one tract of land six miles square, on the 
Miami of Lake Erie above Roche de Boeuf, to include the village 
Avhere Tondanie (or the Dog) now^ lives. Also three miles square 
on the said river (above the twelve miles square ceded to the United 
States by the treaty of Greenville), including what is called Presque 
Isle; also four miles square on the Miami Bay, including the vil- 
lages where Meshkemau and Wau-gau now live."' 



Articles of a treiUy made and concluded at Urowustowu, in the Territory of 
Michigan, between William Hull, Governor of the said Territory and Buper- 
- iutendent of Indian Affairs and Commissioner Plenipotentiarj" of tlie United 
States of America, for concluding any treaty or treaties wliich may be found 
necessary witli any of the Indian tribes Northwest of the Kivor Oliio, of 
the one part, and the saciiems, chiefs and warriors of the Chippewa, Ot- 
tawa, Pottawatamie, Wyandot and Shawanese nalious of Indians of tlie 
other part, couclitded November 2ri, 180S. 
Article I. Whereas, by a treaty concluded at Detroit on the 1 i th 
day of November, A. D., ISOT, a tract of land lying to the west and 
north of the Miami of Lake Erie, and principally within the Territory 
of Michigan, was ceded by the Indian nations to the United States; 
and, whereas, the lands lying on the southeasteru side of the said River 
Miami, and between said river and the boundary line established by 
the treaties of Greenville and Fort Industry, with the exception of 
a few small reservations to the United States, still belong to the 
Indian nations, so that the United States cannot, of right, open and 
maintain a convenient road from the settlements in the State of 
Ohio to the settlements in the Territory of Michigan, nor extend 
those settlements so far as to connect them ; in order, therefore? 
to promote this object so desirable and evidently beneficial to the 
Indian nations, as well as to the LTnited States, the parties have 
agreed to the following articles, which, when ratified by the Presi- 
dent of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate thereof, shall be reciprocally binding. 



Trratiinl llroiriisfaii'n, l-^os. 229 



ORKilN OF THE WESTERN' RE>l.i;vi \,Nli MMMKE ROAD. 

Art. II. Tlu' sf\rr:il nntioiis of Imlians nforosaid, in oiilor ti> 
promote llir nlpjccl inciitioncil in tin- pi-occdinir ail idc ;iiiii in cnn- 
8i<loralion (if I lie tVicinlship tlu'V Itear towards tin- I'liitcil States for 
tlio liltoral aii>l iK'iu'volont pfilicy wliicli has been practiced towards 
them hy the Ljoveriimpnt tlien-ol", do licrchy givp, ijranl and rode 
unto tlif said I'nitcil States, a tract of hind for a ruad of one hnn 
dred and twenty feel in w idth, from the foot of the rapids ot thp 
IJiver Miami of Lake Krit' to the western line ol' tlie Connectient 
reserve, and all the land within one mile of tliesaid road, on each sidr 
fhrrviif, tor the purpose of estahlishine; settlements alonj; the same; 
ilso a tract of land, for a roixd onli/, of one hundred and twenty feet 
in width, to run southwardly from wliat is called Lower Sandusky 
to the boundary line established by the treaty of (-Ircenville, with 
the privilecje of taking, at all times, such timber and otiier materials 
from the adjacent l.imls as may be necessary for making and keep- 
ing in repair the said road, with the bridges that may be required 
along the same. 



Articles of a Treaty, made and cnnchi'lcd at the foot of the Hapids of thr 
Miami of Lake Y.t\v, on tlie 3!)tU Septembi'r, 1817, between Lewis C'asr 
and DixcAN MeARTHrn, Commissioners of tlie United States, with full 
l)ower and authority to hold emferenee';, and conclude and sien a treaty 
or treaties witii all or any of Mie trii)es or nations of Indians witliin the 
lionndaries of llic State of Ohio, of and «-one(Tninir all matters interesting 
to till- United Slates ami lir- said nations of Indians, on the one part ; 
and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of th' AVvandot. Seneca, Delaware, 
Shawanese, I'otlawatomees. Ottawas, ami ('hi|)peway tribes of Indian*. 

Hy the stipulations of this tn'iity cjntaine I in the lirst article, 
the Wyaiulots ceded to the United States the lands (•omprehended 
within the following boundaries: ** R^'ginning at a point on th^ 
.southern shore <>{' Like Krie. whi-re (he present Indian biiunda''y 
line inU'rsecfs tin' same, between the mouth of Saiulusky bav and 
the rnotith of Portage river; theiiee running s lulh with said line, to 
the line estjibli.shi'il in the year ITD'i, by tin; tre.ityof Greenville, 
which runs from the crossing place above Fort Lawrence t.o 
Loramie'rf store: tlience westerly, with the last in •ntioned line to 
the ejistern line of the Ives'-rvi- at i/iramie's store; thence, with the 
lines of said reserve, north and west, to th » north western corner 
thereof; thence to the north-western corner of the reserve on the 
river St. Mary's, at the lie.id id' the navigal)le waters thereof; thence 



230 Treaty at the foot of the Rapids, 1817. 

east to the western bank of the St. Mary's river aforesaid ; thence 
down on the western bank of tlie said river to the reserve at Fort 
Wayne; thence with the lines of the last mentioned reserve, easterly 
and northerly, to the north bank of the river Miami of Lake Erie; 
thence down on the north bank of the said river, to the western line 
of the land ceded to the United States by the treaty of Detroit, in 
tlie year 1807 ; thence, Vv'ith the said line sonth, to the middle of 
said Miami river, opposite the mouth of the Great Auglaize river ; 
thence down the middle of said Miami river, and easterly with the 
lines of the tract ceded to the United States by the treaty of Detroit 
aforesaid so far that a south line will strike the place of beginning/' 

In Art. 2, '*' the Potowatamy, Ottawas and Cliippeway tribes of 
Indians, in consideration of the stipulations herein made on the part 
the United States,'' ceded the land described within the following 
boundaries: "Beginning where the western line of the State of 
Ohio crosses the river Miami of Lake Erie, which is about twenty- 
one miles above the mouth of the Great Auglaize river ; thence down 
the middle of the said Miami river, to a point north of the moutii 
of the Great Auglaize river ; thence, with the western line of the 
land ceded to the United States by the treaty of Detroit, in 1807, 
north forty-five miles ; then west so far that a line south will strike 
the place of beginning; thence south to the place of beginning." 

By Art. 3, '' the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawanese, Potawa- 
tomy, Ottawas and Ohippeway tribes of Indians," accede to the ces- 
sions mentioned in the two preceding articles. 

Art. 4 requires that the United States pay annually, forevei*, 
"certain sums in specie to the several tribes above mentioned, to 
wit: to the Wyandots at Upper Sandusky; to the Senecas at flower 
Sandusky ; to the Shawanese and Delaware tribes at Wapaughkou- 
netta; and to the Pottawatomie, Ottawas and (-hipjiewa tribes at 
Detroit. 

CIRANTS AT WAPAUGHKONNETTA. 

A clause in Art. 6 requires the United States to grant by patent, 
in fee simple, to Oatewekesa or Black Hoof, Byaseka or Wolf, 
Pomthe or Walker, Shemenetoo or Big Snake, Othawakeseka or 
Yellow Feather, Ghakalowah or Tail's End, Pemthala or Jolin 
Perry, Wabepee of White Color, chiefs of the Shawanese tribe 
residing at Wapaughkonnetta, and their successors in office, chiefs 
of the said tribe residing there, for the use of the persons mentioned 



Trmtti nf fli> font of fin Jia/'i'/s, l>17. 231 



in tliL' aiiiifXfd .srliLiluk', Ji tract of land l<'n Tiiilts sqnaiv, lh»' centre 
uf whi'h <l..ill 1m' )1i.' council house :vl Wai)aiiglikonncttH. 
1 I'Im:i; sANl»^sK^ i;i;.\nt. 
The I'nit.il States, in Art. 0, also ffnmt, by patent, in fee simple, 
to I)oan<|noil. llowoner, Kontondee, Tauyan, Kontayaii, Dawatont, 
Manacue, Tauyaudantauson and Haudaunwangli, chiefs of the 
Wyandot tribe, and their successors in olfice, chiefs ol the said tribe, 
for the use of the persons and for tljc purposes mentioned in the 
annexed schedule, a tract of land twelve miles sfpiare, at Upper 
Sandusky, the centre of which shall be the place where Kort Ferrce 
stands; and also a tract of one inil<' square, to be located where the 
chiefs direct, on a cranberry swamp, on l'>roken Swcnl Creek, and to 
be held for the use of the tribe. 

IJKANTS ox llOli CKKEK. 

In another clause of the same article, the United States further 
.uM-anted. by patent, in fee simple, to Peeththa or Falling Tree, ami 
to Oonwaskemo or the lies<dute Man, chiefs of the Shawaiiese 
tribes, residing on Hog Creek, and their successors in oftice, chiefs 
of the said tribe, residing there, for the use <tf the iiersons mentioned 
in the annexed schedule, a tract of la'id containing twenty-five 
square miles, which is to join the tract granted at Wapaughkounetta, 
and (o include the Shawanese setllemeiil on Hog Creek, and to be 
laid off as nearly as possible in a s((uare form. 

lll.ANTH.VUD'S FOKK AND I.ITTLK A I(; 1,AI/K <iKANT^. 

'I'll.' last clause in Art. C stii)ulates Ihal "there shall also be 
reserved for the use of the Ottawas Indians, but not granted to them, 
a tract of land on IManchard's Kork of the Great Auglaize river, to 
contain live miles s«|Uare. the centre (.f which tract is to be where 
the old trace crosses the .sai<l fork, and one other tract to contain 
three miles S(|uare. "11 ile- Mttlr Aiiidaize river, to include ()<|Uanoxa's 

viliage." 

In .\rt. S, the Iniled Stales, '• jit, the special request of the sanl 
lndian.s, agree to grant, by patent, in fee simple, to the persons 
hereinafter nientioned, all of whom are connected with the said 
In.lians, by blnn.l or .ulMpt ion,'' the tra-ts of laixl h.T.'in d. -perilled : 

|.|{ANI NKAI! ( RtxJIIAN-VII.I.K. 

I'o Kh/.iibeth Whilak-r. who was taken prisoner by th- Wvandots, 
ami hivs cvr since lived among them, TJHo acres (.f land, -.n the wesf 



232 Treaty at the foot of the Rapids, 1817. 

side of the iSandiisky river, near Croghunsville, to be laid off in a 
square form, as nearly as the meanders of the said river will admit 
and to rnn an eqnal distance above and below the house in which 
the said Elizabeth Wliitaker now lives. 

CAMP OR FORT BALL GRANT. 

To Kobeit Armstrong, who was taken prisoner by the Indians, 
and has ever since lived among them, and married a Wyandot 
woman, one section to contain 640 acres of land on the west side of 
the Sandusky river, to begin at the place called Camp Ball, and to 
run up the river, with the meanders thereof, 160 poles, and, from the 
beginning, down the river, with the meanders thereof, ICO })oles. and 
from the extremity of these lines west for quantity. 

GRANT NEAR MAUGAIJGON. 

To the cliildren of the late William M'Collock, who was killed in 
August, 1812, near Maugaugon, and who are quarter blood Wyandot 
Indians, one section, to contain 640 acres of land, on the west side 
of the Sandusky river, adjoining the lower line of the tract hereby 
granted to Robert Armstrong, and extending in the same manner 
with and from the said river. 

GRANT NEAR GROGHANSVILLE. 

To Sarah Williams, Joseph Williams and Rachel Nugent, late 
Rachel Williams, the said Sarah having been taken prisoner by the 
Indians, and ever since lived among them, and being the widow, 
and the said Joseph and Rachel being the children, of the late Isaac 
Williams, a half-blood Wyandot, one quarter section of laud, to 
contain 160 acres, on the east side of the Sandusky river, below 
Croghansville, and to include their improvements at a place called 
Negro Point, 

GRANT ADJOINING WAPAUGHKONNETTA. 

To the children of the late Shawanese Chief, Captain Ijogan, or 
Spamagelabe, Avho fell in the service of the United States during 
the late war, one section of land, to contain G40 acres, on the east 
side of the Great Auglaize river, adjoining the lowei- line of the grant 
of ten miles at Wapaughkonnetta and the said river. 

GRANT TO ANTHONY SHANE. 

To Anthony Shane, a half-blood Ottawas Indian, one section of 
land, to contain 640 acres, on the east side of the River St. Mary's, 
and to begin opposite the house in whicii the said Shane now lives ; 



'ri'dii ij (if fhe foot of tin luijoits^ 1^17. '2'V,\ 



tlnMice, lip llu' riviT, with tlii' imaiuKr.s tlicrcuf, IflO \h)\v», and from 
thf ln-;,Mimii)t]j ilnwii (lit- rivcT, witli tin* intaiHlcr.s llici-fdl". It)'.) |ioIf.-f, 
aii'l iVoiii till' r\hvinity of saiil lines rasl I'm- i|iiaiitity. 

WtilMKK (IHANT <)N TH K SANDLSKY. 

'I't» lli)n)iiu, or the C'herokei- l>ny, a Wyaiiihjt Cliiil", a stclion of 
hind, to contain OlO acres, on the Sandusky river, to be hiiil oil' in u 
c;<|narc Inini. and to inchidt- liis imprnvenunts. 

CKAXT TO THE (iODIKoY -. 

To Alexander D. Godfroy and Kichurd GodrrDV, adopted cliildp'n 
of the Potiiwatomy tribe, and at their special re«|uest, one section of 
land, to contain G40 acres, in the tract of country herein ceded to 
the United States hy the Pottawatomy, Ottawas and Ciiippewa, 
tribes, to be located by them, the said Alexander and liichard, after 
the said tract shall have been surveyed. [This grant was ItK-ated 
within the present townshiji of Dublin, in Mercer county.] 

(JKANT To I'ETKI't MINOIt. |\IA\i>i;.| 

To Sawendcbaus, or the Yellow Hair, or Peter Minor, an adopted 
son of Tondajraniie, or rho Do^r. and at the special rcr|uest ot the 
Ottiiwas, out of the tract reserved l»y the treaty of Detroit, in 1807, 
above Koche de Boeuf, at the villai^c of the said Dog, a section of 
land to contiiin ^.40 acres, to l)e located in a Sfpiare fonn, on the 
north side of the Miami, at the Wolf IJapiil. f'F'his grant embraced 
(he town of Providence, Lucas county.] 

IN'DIAX AtJEXCIK.S ESTA lU.ISM i:i). 

In Article l.\, the United States agree to ajipoint an agent, to 
reside among or near the Wyandots, to aid them in th" protection of 
their persons and proi)erty. to manage their intercourse with the 
gitvernment and citizens of the United States, and to di.>-charge the 
duties which commonly appertain to the othce of Indian agent ; 
:ind the same agent is to execute the same duties for IheSeiiecas and 
Delawares on the Sandusky river. And an agent for similar pur- 
poses, and ve.-ted with similar powcr.a, shall Ik* appointed, to reside 
among or near the Shawanese, whose agency shall include the 
reservations at Wapaughkonnetta. at l>ewistown, at Hog Oreek. and 
at Hlanchard's (!reek. 

And the agent for the Wyandots ami Senecas shall occupy .-iieh 
land in the grant at I pp' r Sandusky as may Ik.' necessary f<»r him 
and the persons attached to the agencv. 



234 Treaties at St. Mary's, 1818. 

The United States, in Article X, engage to erect saw and grist 
mills, and also to maintain a blacksmith, for the use of the Wyandots 
and Senecas upon the reservation of the Wyandots, and also for the 
use of the Indians at Wapaughkoimetta, Hog Creek and Lewistown. 

GRANT TO THE OTTAWAS. 

By Article XX, tlie United States also agree to grant, by patent, 
to the chiefs of the Ottawas tribe of Indians, for the use of said 
tribe, a tract of land to contain tliirty-four sijuare niik^s, to be hiid 
out as nearly in a square form as practicable, not interfering witli 
the lines of the tracts reserved by the treaty of Greenville, on the 
south side of the Miami river of Lake Erie, and to include Tush- 
quegan, or M'Carty's village ; which tract, thus granted, shall be 
held by the said tribe upon tlie usual condition of Indian reserva- 
tions, as though no patent were issued. • 



On the Ivth of September, 1818, a treaty was made and con- 
cluded at St. Mary's, in the State of Ohio, between Lewis Cass and 
Duncan Me Arthur, commissioners on the part of the LTnited States- 
and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Shaw- 
anese and Ottawas ; being supplementary to the treaty made and 
concluded with the said tribes, and the Delaware, Pottawatamie and 
Chippewa tribes of Indians, at the foot of the rapids of the Miami 
of Lake Erie, on the 29th day of September, A. D. 1817. 

By the terms of Article I. of this treaty, it is stipulated that the 
grants in the treaty of the 29th of September, 1817, are to be con- 
sidered only as reservations for the use of the Indians named in the 
schedule to the said treaty, and held by them and their heirs for- 
ever, unless ceded to the United States. 

ADDITIONAL RESERVATIONS FOR THE WYANDOTS. 

In Article II. it is also agreed that there shall be reserved for the 
use of the Wyandots, in addition to the reservations before made, 
fifty-five thousand six hundred and eighty acres of land, to be laid 
oft" in two tracts, the first to adjoin the south line of the section of 
six hundred .and forty acres of land heretofore reserverl for the 
Wyandot chief, the Cherokee Boy, and to extend south to the north 
line of the reserve of twelve miles square, at Upper Sandusky, and 
the other to adjoin the east line of the reserve of twelve miles square^ 
at Upper Sandusky, and to extend east for (juantity. 



Treaties at St. Martfs, lsl8. SH.') 

KKSKin \TTONS AT THK IIKADOF BL A NCH A UD's FORK ANDONRAN- 

Dl'SKY HIVKII. 

It is also j»ro\ ick'il that tlierc sliall lie ri'serveil fur tlic use of tlic 
WvanJots residing at Solomon's Town ami on Blanclianrs Fork, 
in addition to the reservations belbre made, sixteen thousand acres 
otland, to he laid oft" in a square form on the head of Hlanchard's 
Fork, the eentre of whieh shall lie at the Big Spring on the traee 
leading from Upper Sandusky to Fort Findlay ; and one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, for the use of the Wyandots, on the west 
side of the Santlusky river, adjoining the said river and (he lower 
line of two sections of land, agreed, by the treaty to whieh tliis is 
supplementary, to bo granted to Elizabeth Whittaker. 

ADUITIUXAL KKsKRVATiONS AT WA I'A L(iIIKOXXETTA AND OX SAN- 

UUSKY KIVKH. 

There shall also be reserved for the use of the Shawanesc. in ad- 
dition to tlie reservations before name<], twelve thousand cii^ht Inni- 
dred acres of land, to be laid off ailjoining the east line of their 
reserve of ten miles square at Wapaughkonnetta ; and lor the ubc 
of the Shawanese and Seneeas, eight thousand nine hundred and 
sixty acres of land, to be laid olt adjoining the west line of the 
reserve of forty-eight square miles at Lewistown. And the last 
reserve hereby made, and the former reserve at the same place, 
shall be equally divided by an east and west line, to be drawn 
through the same. And the north half of the said tract shall be 
reserved for the use of the Seneeas who resi<le there, and the south 
half for the use of the Shawanese who reside there. 

There shall also be reserved for the use of the Seneeas, in addi- 
tion to the reservations before made, ten thousand acres of land, to 
be laid of! on the east side of theSan<lusky river, adjoining the south 
line of their reservation of thirty (housan«l aires of land, which begins 
on the Sandusky river at the lower corner of William Spieer"s section, 
and excluding therefrom the said William Spicer's section. 

A treaty was also made and concluded at St. Mary's, September 
20, 181><, between Lewis Cass, commissioner of the United Slater, 
and the chiefs ami warriors of the Wyandot tribe of Indians, h\ the 
terms of which the latter cede to the Unitcfl States two tracts o( 
land in the Territory of Micliigan ; one including the village called 
Brownstown, and the other the village called Maguagua, formerly 



236 Treaties at St. Mar if s, 1818. 

in possession of the Wyandot tribe of Indians, containing in the 
whole not more than five thousand acres of land, which two tracts 
of land were reserved for the use of the said Wyandot tribe of 
Indians and their descendants for the term of filty years, agreeably to 
the provisions of the act of Congress, passed February "iiS, 1809. and 
entitled, " An act for the relief of certain Alabama and Wyandot 
Indians;" in consideration of which the United States cede certain 
lands to the Wyandots on the south side of the River Huron, in the 
Territory of Michigan, containing four thousand nine hundred and 
ninety-six acres. 

DKLAWARES CEDH TllEHi LANDS IX IXDTAISrA. 

A treaty was concluded with the Delaware tribe of Indians, October 
8, 1818, Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and Benjamin Parke, com- 
missioners on the part of the United States, by the terms of which 
the tribe cede to the United States all their lands in Indiana, in con- 
sideration that the latter agree to provide for them a country to 
reside in upon the west bank of the Mississippi, and to guarantee to 
them the peaceable possession of the same. 

CESSION" OF LANDS BY THE MIAMIES. 

A treaty was also made at St. Mary's between the commissioners 
above named and the Miami nation of Indians, on the Gth day of 
October, 1818, by which that nation cede to the United States the 
following tract of country: ''Beginning at the Wabash river, where 
the present Indian boundary line crosses the same, near the mouth 
of Raccoon creek ; thence up the Wabash river to the reserve at 
its head near Fort Wayne ; thence to the reserve at Fort Wayne ; 
thence with the lines thereof to the St. Mary's River; thence up the 
St. Mary's river to the reservation at the portage ; thence with the 
line of the cession made by the Wyandot nation of Indians to the 
United States, at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, on 
the "iOth day of September, A. D. 1817, to the reservation at Loramie's 
store; thence with the present Indian boundary line to Fort Recov- 
ery ; and, with the said line, following the courses thereof to the 
place of beginning." 

OTHER CESSIONS NEAR FORT WAYNE. 

In Article III. the United States agree to grant, by patent in fee 
simple, to Jean Bapt. Richard vi lie, principal chief of the Miami 



Treaties at St. Mary's, 1 s 1 s. J 3 7 



nation of Tndianrt, (ho following? tracls ol' himl : " Throo soctioiis ol 
l:in<l, iM'giimiiiLj :il>on( Iwi'iity-live ro<l.s l>elovv his hoii.sc, on thf 
Kiver St. Marys, near J''oit Wayne; thence at right ani^lcs with ilic 
course of the river one mile: ami from this line and the said ri\er 
u|» the stream thereof f<>r quantity. Two set^tions upon the east 
side of the St. Mary's river near Fort Wayne, running east one mile 
with the military re.servation ; thence from that line, and from the 
river for <]uantity. Two sections on the Twenty-seven mile creek 
where the road from St. Marys to Fort Wayne crosses it, being one 
section on each side of said creek." 

"Two sections on tl\e left bank of the Wabash, con\mencing at 
the forks and lunning down the river." 

OTin;K (UtAXTS TU I'EK.SON.'^ THERKIN" XAMKlJ. 

"Tlie I'nited States also agree to grant to each of the following 
persons, being .Miami Indians by birth, and their heirs, the tracts id 
lantl herein described : 

"To Joseph Richar<lville and Joseph Richardville. Jr.. two sec- 
tions of land, being one on each side of the St, .Marys Kiver, and 
below the reservation made on that river by the treaty of Green- 
ville in I ^ '.».■"»." 

" Th Francis (iodfroy six sections of lan<l on the ."^.ilaniaiiii' river, 
al a place called La Felite Prairie. 

"ToLi'wis (xodfroy, six sections ol' l.md upon .*>(. .Marys River 
above (he reservation of Anthony Shane. 

"To Charley, a ALiamie chief, one section of hind on the west 
side of St. Mary's River below the section granted to I'emetche, or 
(he Crescent. 

"To Francois La Fontaine and his son, two sections of land ad- 
joing and above the two sections gran(ed to .Ivan liapt. Ilichard- 
ville near i''oil Wayne, ami on (he sanu- >ide ol'the St. .Mary s lii\er. 

"To the i-hiidreii ot' Antoine Rivarre, two sections ol" laud at the 
mouth of the Twenty-seven mile creek and below the same. 

"To Peter Labadie, oni; section ot lauil on the lliver St. .Mary's, 
below tlu! section granted to Charhy. 

"T«) tile son of George ILnit.one section ot" land on the west 
side of St. Marys Kiver, adjoining the two sections granted to 
Francois La Fontaine and his sou. 



238 Saginaw Treaty, 1819. 

"To Josette Beaubieu, one section of land on the left bank of the 
St. Mary's, above and adjoining the three sections granted to Jean 
Richardville. 

"To William Wayne Wells, Mary Wells and Jane Turner Wells, 
half-blooded Miamies, were each granted a section of land.' 



SAGINAW TREATY. 

A treaty was made and concluded at Saginaw, Territory of Michi- 
gan, between the United States, by their coramissionei', Lewis Cass, 
and the Chippewa nation of Indians, September 24, 1819, by the 
terms of which that nation ceded to the United States the land 
embraced within the following lines : " Beginning at a point in the 
present boundary line, which runs due north from the mouth of the 
Great Auglaize river six miles south of the place where the base 
line, so called, intersects the same; thence west si.vty niiles; thence 
in a direct line to the head of Thunder Bay river; thence down the 
same, following the courses thereof, to the mouth ; thence north- 
east to the boundary line between the United States and the British 
Province of Upper Cadana; thence with the same to the line estab- 
lished by the treaty of Detroit in the year A. D. 1807; thence with 
the said line to the place of beginning." 



[Act of May 2(i, 18-i-l, 1st ses.-sion of IStli Couj^rcst^, p. 128.J 

An act, reserving to the Wyandot tribe of Indians a certain tract of land, in 
lieu of a reservation made to tliem by treaty. 

Section 1. That there be, and hereby is, reserved, for the use 
of the chiefs and tribe of the Wyandot Indians, subject to the con- 
ditions and limitations of the former reservation, the nortlieast 
quarter of section number two, in township two, and range seven- 
teen, south of the base line of land in the Delaware Land District, 
in the State of Ohio, in lieu of one liundred and sixty acres of land 
on the the west side of, and adjoining the Sandusky river ; and 
which was reserved to said tribe of Indians, by a supplementary 
treaty between the United States and certain tribes of Indians, held 
at St, Mary's, in the State of Ohio, on the 17th day of Septpnil)er. 
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ; on condition that the 
chiefs of said Wyandot tribe tirst relinquish to the United States all 



La.<^t Trfaifj in<i</t with oli'm Indiitnx. i*:v.» 



the right, titlt* and ohiim ofgftitl trilu*, to the one linndred jnul sixty 
;u-rt'? of laiitl reserved liy .said su|)i)lenjenlary treaty. 

'I'he .sul)se(|iieiit treaties that were made with the Indians, jno- 
vided for the purchase of their lands by the United Stales, and 
their removal west of the Missis.sii)i)i. The last Indian title extin- 
guished was (hat of the Wyandots, who.se lands in the reservation 
at Upper Sandusky, and in the county which hears their name, wa.s 
offered for sale by the United States in the autumn of 184"), 

"The Delawares ceded their reservations to the United States in 
IS:>9. The Wyandots ceded theirs by a treaty made at Upper 
S.indusky, March 17, 1S4'2, they being the only Indians then remain- 
ing in the State. The eommi.ssioner on the part of the United 
Slates was Colonel John Johnston, who had then tlie honor uf making 
llie last Indian treaty in Oliio — a State, every loot of whose soil has 
Iteen fairly juirehased l)y treaties from its f>riginal possessors. The 
Wyanduts left for Kansas in July. Is-t;!, and nnmbere<l at that lime 
al)out seven hundred souls." — Hoini Iloict: 



. CHAPTER IV. 

THE IIOUXDARY CONTROVERSY. 

" A disputed jurisdiction," wrote Lewis Cass to Edwurd 'J'iffin, 
the United States Surveyor General, under date of November 1st, 
1817, "is one of the greatest evils that can happen to a country." 

The same motives and passions that govern cabinets, animate 
individuals in their disputes for the smallest quantity of ground. 
Claims, involving vast sums of money, foil to provoke sti'ifes as 
acrimonious as those relating to contested land bouiidai'ies. The 
question of boundary between Ohio and Michigan was co-eval with 
the admission of the former into the Union. It vexed the conven- 
tion that framed the constitution of 1 80:^3. It was owing to the 
neglect of Congress that it had not (piieted before growing settle- 
ments and clashing interests had attained such proportions that the 
controversy at last seriously threatened the peace of the country. 
Tlie area in dispute embraced about tive miles in width at the west 
end, and eight miles in width at the east end. Writers havo 
generally dwarfed the real magnitude of the question, and the mass 
of the present generation know it only as the "Toledo War." The 
parties, however, at issue, were not, as some suppose, Governor 
Mason and Governor Lucas, nor were they the State of Oliio and the 
Territory of Michigan ; but the real contestants engaged were the 
sovereign State of Ohio and the Government of the United States. 
The latter power was the lawful guardian of Michigan. That Ter- 
ritory was its own offspring. Under the Constitution and Laws of 
the Union, the Federal Government was bound to protect every 
just claim of Michigan. Had the Governor of Ohio occupied the 
disputed tract with a belligerent force, it would have been incumbent 
upon President Jackson, had he regarded the claims of i\f ichigan as 
clear and indisputable, to have adopted measures to vindicate the 
integrity of the soil of that Territory by all the military and naval 
resources at his command. Governor Mason entertained this view 



Orii/in of the Constitntioinil I*ri>ris)<ni. L'41 

of the question, and he represented that the cause of Michigan was 
the cause of the United SUites, and would be sustained by the whole 
j)o\ver of the Fedt-ral (Tovernmout. Tiic same view, as will be dis- 
covered by the documents appended, was held by (Jovernor Lucas. 
Ill one of iiis communications to the General Assembly he said: 
" As I have heretofore stated to you, we can have no controversy 
with the Territoi y of Miehi^jan. A territory can have no sovereij^n 
ri<,dit<. and no arran<:jeinent that could be made will) iIk- Territorial 
authoritii'S on tiie subject of boundary would be ol)ligatory." 

As before remarked, tlie (juestioii of the northern boundary of 
the State was one that challenged solicitUfle on the part of the 
members of tlie Convention wljo framed the first Constitution of 
Ohio, .ludge Burnet, in his Notes on the North Western Territory, 
thus explains the origin of the proviso eont .lined in Article \ II, 
Sec. G, of the tirst Constitution : 

'• The fpiestion of boundary, though not expressly referred to the 
Convention, was one ot greater importance than would appear at 
first view. It is generally known to those who have considted the 
maps of the western country extant at the time the Ordinance of 
ITM was passed, tliat Lake Miebigan was represented as being very 
tar north of i\w position which it has since been ascertained to 
occupy. On a mai» in the Department of State, wbieb was before 
the (,'ommittee of Congress who framed the Ordinance for tlie 
Government of tlie Territory, tlie southern l>oundary of that lake 
was laid down as being near the forty-second degree ot north 
latitude : and there was a pencil line passing through the southern 
bend of the lake to the Canada line, which intersected the strait, 
between the Kiver Raisin and the town of Detroit. That line was 
manifestly inten<led by the Committee, and by Congress, to be the 
northern boundary ot this State ; and, on the principles on which 
courts of chancery construe contracts, accompanied with plats, that 
map, and the line marked on it, should have been taken as conclusive 
eviilence of the boundary, without reference to the actual position 
ol'the southern extreme of the lake. 

"When the Convention was in session in l>>iii, it was the pre- 
vailing understanding that the old maps were correct; and that the 
line, as defined in the Ordinance, would terminate at some point on 
the strait, far above the Maumee b.iy ; l)ut. while that subject was 
under discussion, a man who had bunted many years on Lake 
Michigan, and was well .-icpiainted w ith its position, hai)peiied to be 

k; 



242 Origin of the Constitutional Provision. 

in Chillicothe, and, in conversation with some of the members, 
mentioned to them that the lake extended much farther south than 
was generally supposed ; and that a map he had seen placed its 
southern bend many miles north of its true position. His statement 
produced some apprehension and excitement on the subject, and 
induced the Convention to change the line prescribed in the act of 
Congress, so far as to provide that, if it should be found to strike, 
Lake Erie below the M aumee river, as the hunter informed them it 
would, then the boundary of the State should be a line drawn from 
the point where the prescribed line intersected the west boundary 
of the State direct to the most northern cape of the Maumee bay. 
That provision saved to the State of Ohio the valuable ports and 
harbors on the Maumee river and bay, which were the prize con- 
tended for, in what was called the Michigan war of Governor Lucas. 
Yet some of the members were so intent on the establishment of a 
State government, in the shortest possible period, that they hesitated 
in making the provision lest it might cause delay ; but fortunately 
it was adopted, and its object is now secure. Small matters some- 
times lead to great results, as was the (act in this case.'' 

A little more than nine years after the admission of Ohio as a 
State, Amos Spafford, then collector ot the port of Miami, at the 
request of /z'//// families, then eompositig the population of the dis- 
puted tract, addressed the following letter to the Governor of 

Ohio : 

MfAMi Rapids, January 23, 1812, 

Hiv : It appears to be the general wish of the people in this 
settlement (which consists of about fifty families) to have the laws 
of the State of Ohio extended over them, as we consider ourselves 
clearly within the limits of said State. The few who object are 
those who hold offices under the Governor of Michigan, and are 
determined to enforce their laws. This is considered by a great 
majority of the inhabitants a usurpation of power which they are 
under no obligation to adhere to. If no adjustment should take 
place, I fear the contention will ere long become serious. Sir, yon 
have the goodness to inform the people here whether there has been 
any undi rstanding between the State of Ohio and the Governor of 
Michigan on the subject of jurisdiction, together with your advice. 
I am, sir, with high esteem, your obedient servant, 

Amos Spafford, 
(Collector of ike port Miami. 

To His Excellency, Return Jonathan Meigs, Esq. 

N. B. The foregoing letter is written at the request of the 
inhabitants. 



Lrttt^r of J)r. (oiKint. 24."^ 



This lettpr of* Mr. Spafford, it will be obsi tvimI. whs writtrn (lur- 
iiii: :i iK'rioil wlicii the population ot the wrstcni frontiers were 
»-x«-ite(l l>y tiic untViiMidly rt'hitioiis cxistiiiir 1k'1\v«'cii Kni,rl:iinl :iii.l 
the rnitc<1 States; and which n-sultcd in :i declaration (jT war made 
by the latt»-r in June <>f the same year. The ureal issue of a loreign 
war, threatening a common danuer. united all the |).'o|.le ol the 
frontier, inelu.lini; those of the .lisputetl jurisdiction, in support of 
the 1,'Hneral interests, an.l. for the time, postponed the boundary 
coudict. Vet, in dune •>f the same year, Congress j.asse.l a resolu- 
tion directing the Coiinnissioner of the (General Lan.l office to 
cause the line to l>e surveyL-^l ; hut for the reason stated, the resolu- 
tiou was not earri.'d into effect until 1SI7; when William Harris, 
uuder the instructions of the Surveyor General ol" the United 
States, laitl otf the northern boundary on the line defined iu the 
Ohio Constitution of ls()-.». Throuiih the iufliieuce of (ieueral Cass. 
then Territorial Governor of Michij^an. another survey was made 
uuder the authority of the I'nited States (lovernment, by John A. 
Fulton, known as "the Fulton line,'" which t(»uche(l closer to con- 
formity with the claims of Michigan. 

The anxiety of the inhabitants of the infant settlement, occupyiutiC 

the disputed tract, is uttered through the following lett«'r of Dr. 

Horatio Conant : 

FoiiT Mi;iti.-^. -JOth December, 1 S*j:{. 

Dt'di- Sir: The iuhabit.iuts in this vicinity have lately e.vpressed 
considerable solicitude respecting the northern line of this State, 
and several of them have re<juesled me to wjite to your ln»nor upon 
the sub'n'ct. It seems to have been taken for granted, more from 
inadvertence, possibly, than for any good reiison. that the southern 
line is tin- correct one. The juris<ru;tion of the Territory ot" Michi- 
gan is extended to the territory betwei'ii the two lines with the 
deci<led approbation of the iidiabitants of the disputed ground, 
which makes it impossible for the State officers of Ohio to interfere 
with<iut exciting disturbance We are anxious to have some meas- 
ures adopted to ascertain the limits of our jurisdiction. What those 
mea.sures should be. or whether we can afl'ect anything as indivd 
uals, we are ignor.ant Almost any line that couhl be run would be 
preferrcil to the present, cutting off. as it does, the bay and mouth 
of the river. The line to the north cape of the bay is probably the 
only one that could be expected, ottier than the one now established, 
and woultl be the most agreeabh- to us. If anything can In- efVeeted, 
we depend upon your exertions and those of" the other memliers ot 
the Legislature from this State. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant. HoKAllu CoNANT. 

Hon. Ethan A. Hruwu, Senator in ConyrMs. 



244 The Agitation Renewed in 1835. 

In 1835 the agitation was renewed in consequence of an anxious 
desire on the part of a majority of the inhabitants near the mouth 
of the river to have the jurisdiction of Ohio established on the 
Harris Line, with a view of securing to their locality the advantages 
of the Wabash and Erie Canal. W. V. Way, Esq., of Perrysburg, 
in a very interesting address upon this subject, made in bSOS, says : 

"The necessity of immediately constructing the canal, and the 
urgent demands of the citizens of Toledo, induced the Governor to 
bring the subject before the Legislature by a special message. On 
the 23d of February, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act 
extending the northern boundaries of the counties of Wood, Henry 
and Williams, to the Harris Line. 

" The authorities of Michigan had previously exercised jurisdic- 
tion over tlie entire territory lying between the Harris Line on the 
north, and the Fulton Line on the south, as a part of Michigan. 

" It ought, however, to be mentioned, that the authorities of 
Wood county, at a period much earlier than 1835, attempted to 
extend the laws of Ohio over that part of this territory claimed to 
be in that county, by levying taxes, but the people did not recog- 
nize the act and refused to pay the taxes. 

'•'An act of the Legislature of Ohio, passed on the 23d of Febru- 
ary, 1835, provided 'that such part of the territory declared by this 
act as being attached to the county of Wood, shall be erected into 
townships as follows, to wit : such part of ranges five and six as lies 
between the line run due east from the southern extremity of Lake 
Michigan and the line run from the said southern extremity to the 
most northern cape of the Maumee Bay, be and the same is hereby 
erected into a separate and distinct township by the name of 
Sylvania; and that all such part of ranges seven and eight, together 
with the territory east of the Maumee River, as lies between the 
line run from the southerly extremity of Lake Michigan to the most 
northerly cape of the Maumee Bay, and between Lake Erie and the 
line run due east from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to 
Lake Erie, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate and 
distinct township, by the name of Port Lawrence ;' and further 
authorized and directed those townships to hold elections for town- 
ship officers on the first Monday in April next, and provided for 
their complete organization. It also directed the Governor to 
appoint thi-ee commissioners to run and re-mark the Harris Line. 



GovPviKtr Maxon to Gciurnl llrown. •24.') 



'• I'ri Si'i'ly, of (TcaniTii. Jnii:itlia!i Taylor, of LickiiiLC, and Jolm 
I*attorson, of Adams, wi-ro appointeil c-oinmissioiiers to run ami re- 
mark the line. The tiisl of Ajiril was named as the time to com- 
mence the survey. Stevens T. Mason, Seerctary and aetiiii^ Gover- 
nor of Michigan Territory, anticii»ating the action of the T^'gislature 
of Ohio, sent a special message to the Legislative Council, apprising 
it of the special message of Governor Lucas, an<l advised the jKissage 
of an act to counteract the proceedings of Ohio. 

'* Governor Mason wrote to General Brown, w lio was in fonunaiitl 
of the thiril division of the Michigan militia, as follows: 

ExEcuTiVR OiiicE, Detroit, March !•, 1835. 

>//-.• You will herewith receive the copy of a letter just received 
from Columhus. Vou now perceive tliat a collision between Ohio 
and Michigan is inevitahle, an<l will therefore be prepared to meet 
the crisi.s. The Governor of Ohio has issued a proclamation, but I 
have neither received it nor have I been able to learn its tendency. 
You will use every e.xertion to obtain the earliest information of 
the military nKnements of our ailversary, as I shall assume the 
responsibility r»f sending you such arms, etc., as may be necessary 
for your successiul operation, without waiting for an order from the 
Secretary of War, so soon as Ohio is properly in the tield. Till 
then I :iin compelled to await the direction ot the War Department. 
\'ery respectfully your obedient servant, 

Stevens T. Masox. 

General Jos. W. Brown. 



"On the 'Ust of March Governor Lticas, accomj)anied by liis staff 
and the boundary commissioners, arrived at Perrysburg on their 
way To run and re-mark the Harris Line, in compliance with the act 
of '.'.'jd of February previous. 

•' General John Bell, in command of the seventeenth division of 
Ohio militia, embracing the disputeil territory, arrived about the 
same time witli his staff, and mustereil into service a volunteer force 
of about .six hundred men, fully armed and etjuipped. The force 
went into camp at old Fort Mi.ami, and awaited the orders of the 
Governor. The force consiste<l of five companies of the first regi- 
ment, second briga<le of the seventeenth division of militia, under 
thr command of ('olonel Mathias Van Fleet. The Captains of these 
comp:inies were J. A. Scott. Stephen S. Gilbert, John I'eltinger, 
Felton and Granville Jones, of (he Lucas Gu.ards, an indepi'ndcnt 
company of Toledo. 



246 Efforts at Compromise. 

" These companies numbered about three hundred effective men. 
There was also a part ol a regiment from Handusky county, com- 
manded by Colonel Lewis Jennings, and a part of a regiment from 
Seneca and Hancock counties, under command of Colonel Brish, of 
Tiffin. These numbered about three hundred more, making the total 
force six hundred men. 

" Governor Mason, with General Joseph W, Brown, arrived at 
Toledo with a force under the immediate command of the latter, 
variously estimated from eight hundred to twelve hundred men, 
and went into camp, ready to resist any advance of the Ohio author- 
ities upon the disputed territory to run the boundary line or doing 
other acts inconsistent with Michigan's right of jurisdiction over it- 

"The two Governors, having made up an issue by legislative 
enactments, found themselves confronted by a military force that 
had been called out to enforce their respective legislative pleadings. 
Governor Mason representing the tenant in possession, was content 
to rest at his ease. Governor Lucas representing the plaintiff, had to 
open the trial. The whole country in the meantime became wild 
with excitement. 

•'Governor Lucas had determined in his mind to order General 
Bell with his force to Toledo as soon as he could make the necessary 
preparations, and risk the consecjuences ; but before he had got his 
preparations made, two eminent citizens, Hon. Richard Rush, ot Phil- 
adelphia, and Colonel Howard of Baltimore, arrived from Washing- 
ton as commissioners from the President of the United States, to use 
their personal influence to stop all war-like demonstrations. Hon. 
Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio, accompanied the commissioners as a 
voluntary peace-maker. 

"The commissioners and Mr. Whittlesey had several conferences 
with both Governors, and finally on the 7th of April submitted the 
following propositions for their assent, to-wit : 

"' 1st. That the Harris Line should be run and re-marked pur- 
suant to the act of the last session of the Legislature of Ohio with- 
out interruption. 

'• ' 2d. The civil elections under the laws of Ohio having taken 
place throughout the disputed territory, that the people residing 
upon it should be left to their own government, obeying the one 
jurisdiction or the other, as they may prefer, without molestion 
from the authorities of Ohio or Michigan until the close of the next 
session of Congress.' 

*' Governor Lucas, on the urgent request of the commissioners, 



G-ovfvnnr }fiison Itij<cfs fJir I\n<'( Offrrx. 247 

,in<l Mr. Whittk'Hey, asjreed, relu<ttantly, to accept the proposi- 
tions as :i pi'uceable settlement until after ' the close of the next 
session of Congress. " Governor Miison refused to ac<|uie8C in tlie 
propositions. Governor Liieas assented to them in the liirht of re- 
ijardint; the Governor of a territory in the condition of a siihaltern, 
subject to the control of the President. He looked upon tlw ar- 
rani^ement, .as made with the President, tlirouLjh Messrs. Mush ancl 
Howard as his representatives, anil disbanded the military force he 
had collected. Governor Mason partially followed suit ; l»ut still 
continued makinix prepar.ations for any emeri^ency that niifjlit arise. 

•' Govermir Lucas now ihouijht he could vwn and re-mark the 
Harris Line without serious molestation from the authorities of 
Michigan, and directed the commissioners to jiroc-eed with the work. 

" S. Dodg"', an engineer on the Ohio canal, liad been engaged as 
surveyor to run the line." 

The result of the surveying expedition is shown in the following 
correspondence : 

PkrivVsiu K(i. May 1, lh;35. 

To KolxTl I>ii(;is, Ksii,, (.(iviTiior i>i inr Mali' of Ohio: 

Sir: In the discharge of the «luties which de\i>lve upon us as 
commissioners appoint eil by your excellency for re-!narkin<_r the 
northern boundary line of this State, which is known and distin- 
guished as Harris" Line, we met at Perrysburg on Wednesday, the 
1st of Ai»ril last, and at'ter (-ompleting th»' necessary arrangements, 
proceeded to the Northwest corner of the State, and there succeeded 
in finding tlie corner as described in the field notes of the Surveyor 
Harris, a copy of wliicli we had procured from the Surveyor Gen- 
erals office. Tlience your commissioners proceeded eastwardly 
along said line, which they Coiinrl with little ilifficulty. and re- 
marked the same as di?"ected Ity l:iw in ;i plain and visible manner, 
to the distance of thirty eight miles and a lialf. being more than 
lialf the length of the whole line. 

hiiringour pro'jress we had been constantly threatened \^s the 
authorities of .NliclTiL'an, and spies from the territorv. for the pur- 
pose of watching «iur movements and ascertainiuLT our actual srentrtht 
were almost daily among us. 

On Saturday evetnng, the •-•'tli iilt.. afl(>r liavinu performed a 
laborious days service, your commissioners, together with their 
party, retired to the distance of .about one mile south of the line, in 
Henry county within the State of Ohio, where we thought to have 
rested <juietly and pec<'ably enjoy the blessings of the Sabbath -and 
especially not being engage<l on the line, we thought ourselves 
secure for the day. Hut contrary to our evpcctat ions, at :ibf)ut 
twelve o'clock in the day, an armed force of about fifty or sixty men 



248 The 8ti>rveymg Expedition. 



hove in sight, within musket shot of us, all mounted upon horses, 
well armed with muskets and under the command of General Brown 
of Michio;an. Your commissioners observing the great superiority 
of force, having hut five armed men among us, who had been em- 
ployed to keep a lookout and as hunters for the party, thought it 
prudent to retire, and so advised our men. Your commissioners, 
with several of their party, made good their retreat to this place. 
But, sir, we are under the painful necessity of relating that nine of 
our men, who did not leave tlie ground in time after being fired 
upon by the enemy, from thirty to fifty shots, were taken prisoners, 
and carried awav into the interior of the country. Those Avho were 
taken were as follows, to wit : Colonels Hawkins, Scott and Gould, 
Major Rice, Captain Biggerstatt and Messrs. Elsworth, Fletcher, 
Moale and Rickets. 

We are happy to learn that our ]>arty did not fire a gun in turn, 
and that no one was wounded, although a ball from tlio enemy 
passed through the clothing of one of our men. 

We have this day learned by some of the men who were arrested 
and have just returned, that they were taken to Tecumseh under 
the escort of the armed force, were there brought before a magis- 
trate for examination, that they denied the jurisdiction ; but that 
six entered bail for their appearance; two were released as not 
guilty, and one, to wit : Mr. Fletcher refused to give bail and is 
retained in custody. We are also further informed, b/ imqucstion- 
able authority, that, on the Sabbath day, an armed force of several 
hundred men were stretched along the line to the east of us, with a 
view to intercept us on our way. 

Under existing circumstances and in the present threatening 
attitude of afl'airs, your commissioners have thought it prudent, lor 
the interest of the State, as also for the safety of her citizens and to 
prevent the threatened effusion of blood, to withdraw from the line 
at present, and suspend the further prosecution of the work, until 
some efticient preparatory measures can be taken which will insure 
the completion of the undertaking. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Jonathan Taylor, i 

J. Patterson, > Commissioners. 

Uri Seely. S 



Lenawee County Jail, } 

Tecumseh, May 5, 1 835. ^ 

Sir : Considering it my duty to inform the authorities of Ohio 
of my present situation, relative to my imprisonment in Michigan, T 
take the liberty to address your excellency. I am at present incar- 
cerated in jail — Avas committed yesterday. The Slieriff was in- 
fluenced to change his course of treatment towards me, by Gover- 



a\ Mirlilijdii J\is(nier h'.rjj/ahiK 241' 



nor .Mason and General Brown — cliielly, I believe, l)y Brown. I 
(lineil with General Brown yesterday, (governor Mason was tlit-rc 
He (Mason) strongly urijed me to u'lve bail: lie observi-d as bail 
had been prott'ered me, tliis fact wonld i^o I'ortli to the public and 
exonerate Michiiran from censure in case that I was committfd. 
The same consideration has been repeatedly advanced to induce 
rae to enter bail. ^ly reply has been that the rii^ht to demand bail 
is the question at issue — that in the case I gave bail, 1 <lid not con- 
sider it material whether the responsibility of that bail was assumeil 
by a citizen of Ohio or a citizen of Michiijan. Governor .Mason 
expressed himself as being very anxious that the ditlieullies might 
be settled without any further hostilities. General Brown was .silent 
on this subject. There is reason to believe that he does not wish to 
have tliis question amicably settled, but that he secretly wishes 
for a collision between the State and Territory that he may have an 
opportunity to distinguish himself; and that all his measures are 
taken with a view to ellect thip. In conversation at (Jeneral Brown's 
yesterday respecting the circumstances attending our arrest, the 
Sheriif expressed regret that the citizens of Ohio were lired upon. 
General Brown replied that " it was the best thing that was done ; 
that he did not hesitate to say he gave the order to lire.'' He spoke 
of giving directions to the Sheriff how to jiroceed : and the Sherilf 
admitted that he acted undei- his (Brown's) dir"'ctitin. I mention 
these circumstances because, in my view, they illustrate the jirinci- 
])les :iiid motives which have deeply i)ron)pt('d the o])|)osition which 
(Jhio has met in her attempts to re mark the boundary line ; and that 
von may be better able to anticipate the course which Michigan will 
adojjt in the future. 

Governor Mason expres.sed the <letermination to i)revi'nt the run- 
ning of the line at all hazards. Said that the Sherilf's posse would 
not be called out again. 'I'hat in case of an emergency, he relied on 
the a.tsisfaiice and j/rufrcfion nf the E.rcrntirr of the Ignited States. 
I did not understand him to say that this reliance was grounded on 
any direct assurance, but only on inference. On Saturday evening 
last, I received a communication from the Gommis«ioners, by Col. 
Green, in which they ajiprove of the positi<tn whiih I had taken : 
and instructed me to abide by it. I was gratified to be informed by 
Colonel Green that your Ivxcellency coincided with the Commis- 
sioners in opinion respecting the cour.se I had adopted. When 
Colonel Green left In-re, the understanding with the Slicriff was, 
that he woidd not commit me. As he has seen lit to do .«o, I inive 
thought proper to give your lOvcellency information of it. I will 
only ;uld, that I shall remain as I am until further instructions, 
which I doubt not will be forwarded in due time. 

I have the honor to be your obedienl servant, 

J. K. Fi-ETriiEU. 

His Kxcellencv b'obert Intcas, Qovernor of the SUite of Ohio. 



250 Major Stichney a Prisoner. 



In addition to these outrages upon tlie oflficial surveying party 
were numerous flagrant assaults upon individuals, as the following 
letters evince : 

MoNEOE PRisoii, May 6th, 1835, 

Dear Sir: — Here I am, peeping through the grates of a loath- 
some prison, for the mondrous crime of having acted as the Judge 
of an election within the State of Ohio. 

From what took place the other day, at Port Miami, at a confer- 
ence between yourself and the Commissioners of the United States, 
wherein we had the honor of being present, we were led to 
believe that a truce at least would be the result. In this we were 
again deceived. I left my residence in Toledo in company with a 
lady and gentleman, from the interior of Ohio, to visit my friend 
A. E. Wing, of Monroe, and others, conceiving that respect for the 
ordinary visits of hospitality would have been sufficient for my 
protection under such circumstances. But vindictiveness is carried 
to such extremes, that all the better feelings of man are buried in 
the common rubbish. The officer who first took me, treated me in 
a very uncivil manner; dragging me about as a criminal through 
the streets of Monroe, notwithstanding there are a number of 
exceptions to this virulent mass. 

On board the boat we took passage from Toledo to Monroe, were 
Messrs. Kush and Howard, on their way to Washington. They will 
make fav.orable mention of the extreme forbearance of Ohio. At 
eight o'clock this morning, we saw and shook hands with the Gov- 
ernor ol these movements (Mason), and his General (Brown), in 
Monroe, just leaving for Detroit. It is presumable that they 
directed those outrageous transactions. 

?th, 7 o'clock A. M. — Have been here fourteen hours, and no 
refreshment of any kind yet furnished. It appears probable that it 
is intended to soften us by starvation. 

Those bands of ruffians of the United States, hanging iipon the 
northern border of Ohio, require chastisement. It is to be hoped that 
the United States will take s]ieedy measures to reduce them to sub 
mission. They have become very trouhlcsome to the Western States, 
as you are fully aware, and the State of Ohio particularly, making 
inroads by night and by day in large gangs, and committing depre- 
dations upon the peaceable population — kidnapping and abducting 
individuals who have become offensive to them. Whether the 
United States undertake the subduing of these lawless despera- 
does, or leave the State individually to defend themselves, it will 
recpiire a large force. We cannot but hope that the United States 
or the State to which I belong, will not permit our individual suffer- 
ings to urge them to any measures that may not be consistent with 
an enlarged view of the rights of the United States, or the individual 
States. I have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant, 

B. F. Stickney, 
His Excellency Robert Lucas, Governor of the State of Ohio. 



iV. GoodseU a Prisoner. 251 



ToLKiH), Mjiy 2:}d. lH3f). 

Sir : — III fomplianrc with yniir rt'cuu'Sf. thai I tjhould forward lo 
you, lit ( loliiiiihiis. ail at'c'ount of my ahdiictiini, I si-iul ynii the 
fnllowinp: 

On the inorning of the 8th of April, at about two o'clock A. M., I 
WJI.S awakened by a heavy knocking at my door. I got up, raised a 
window : at the .sani<' rime I discovered a number of persons stand- 
ing near the (hior. I drmanded. what they watitrd. 'IMn y answert'd 
the}' wanted to come into the house I iL-mauded what thfir l»usi- 
ness was, and by what authority they appeared there. But they 
made no reply to any of my interrogatories ; but re])lied if I did 
not open the door, they would break it. I replied if that was their 
business, 1 should treat them accordingly — that the iloor was fast 
and I should defend it. 

I drove them once from the door, wiien many of them went to 
the back part of the house, and I rejiaired to that part for defence. 
While there, they made another attempt to force that door, in which 
they succeedetl. 1 returned t«> the front and found the inmates so 
mixed with the assailants, that I could not did'end it successfully, 
without endangering them, as it was too dark to distinguish one 
from another, only by voice. I was overcome bv force and treated 
very roughly, as was aistt my wife, who had left the house to alarm 
the neighbors: but was overt^iken by the kidnappers and treated 
witli vioknci' and insoK-nce. I was taken back into the woods, 
where there were many horses in readiness. Jind ordered upon one 
of them and hurried off in the ilirection of Monroe. 

My journey was rendered nnplea.sant by the insolence y^^ some of 
the party, and my life jeopardized by }»eing ol)liged to ride upon a 
horse without a bridle: which horse being urged from behint', 
became frightened and ran with tne until I jumped iVoin him. I 
arrived at ^fonroe, and was detained there until next day, a.s tln-y 
refused me any bail excej*! from day to day. I was taken before the 
<^irand Jury, then in session, and t|Uestioned (■<tnc<'rning our meeting 
the otTiccrs, etc.. etc. Onring the second dav a large military force, 
or posse. Wius raised, armed and started for Toledo, .\fter tln-y had 
gone nearly long enough to have reached Toledo. I was admitted to 
bail, and mturneil — passetl tin- force on the road — iinpiired of tin- 
Sheriff whether that was to be considered an armed fon-e or a Sheriirs 
possp. He answered that he «-onsidered it a pussi- at that time, but 
".t was so arranged that it might l)e «-ither— as (-in-nmstances s)n)uld 
refpiire: that <»eneral Brown and aid were along, who wmild act in 
csise they assumed a military force. I was informed that they had 
one wagon loaded with Initi'd Stiites arms, and one loaded with am- 
munition, and saw the wagons which wer<- said to be loiuled. When 
about half way from this pla(-«' to .Monroe, on the morning of my 
abduction, our party was joined f»y the one having Mr. McKay in 
cust-ody, who ))ad also been abducted, or made prisoner a^ they 



252 Mr. Way'n Statement Resumed. 

termed it. About his person there were marks of violence. He 
rode with his feet tied under the horse ; and one of the party told 
me he volunteered to go to Toledo that he might have an opportu- 
nity of gratifying an old grudge he had against Mr. McKay. 
I am. sir. yours resi)ectfully, 

N. GOODSELL. 

His Excellency Robert Lucas, 

Governor and Commander- in- Cliief of the State of Ohio. 



"The Commissioners had commenced their work at the north- 
west corner of the State, General Brown had sent scouts through 
the woods, to watch their movements and to report when they found 
them running the line. When the surveying party had got within 
the county of Lenawee, the under-sheriff of that county, with a 
warrant and posse, made his appearance to arrest them. He arrested 
a portion of the party; but the Commissioners and Surveyor Dodge 
made a timely escape, and run with all their might until they got 
off the disputed territory. They reached Perrysburg the next day 
with clothes badly torn ; some of tliem hatless, with terrible looking 
heads, and all with stomachs very much collapsed. They rejwrted 
that they had been attacked by a hirge force of Michigan militia 
under General Brown, and hnd been fired upon and had just escaped 
with their lives ; and that they expected the balance of their party 
were killed or prisoners. They formally reported these facts to Gov- 
ernor Lucas and he reported them to the President. 

"The President sent a copy of the report to Governor Mason and 
directed him to send him a statement of the facts in regard to the 
treatment of the boundary Commissioners, '■hythe officers engaged 
in the transaction complained of.'' Governor Mason wrote General 
Brown informing him of the communication from the President, 
and requested liim to forward a report from the officers engaged, 
containing a detailed stati'inent of wliat had been done, that he 
could forward it for the information of the President. General 
Brown forwarded his report, from William MclSTair, under- 
sheriff of Lenawee county, with his indo] semen t on the back in 
these words: 'In consecjuence of reports being circulated through 
Ohio that the Boundary Commissioners had been fired upon 
by the Michigan military when the officers made the arrest, a 
statement was offfcially made by the under-sheriff of Lenawee 
county who made the arrests, to the acting Governor of Michigan 
Territory, to correct such false reports,' 



Puhlic Seihtuiu nf ill <>Jiln. 



"The breakin;r up of the surveyiii;,' |tiiity :iiul the report they 
miidf of the tri'atnuMit tht-y had roceivid. producwl great excitement 
throughout Ohio. Tiic press spread th.- news with such comments 
as corresponded with their views. Must of the papers advocated 
the course of the (iovernor, and severely condemned the conduct o( 
Michigan. However, some few of the Whig or anti-Democratic in 
polities, took an opposite view, and condemned .severely the conduct 
of Governor Lucas and tlio.se who sided with him. They treated the 
proceedings on the part of the authorities of Ohio as ridiculous and 
calculated to bring the State into disgrace. But the number of 
these presses that spoke freely against the course pursued by the 
State, were very few. (iovern(»r Lucas, finding it impracticable to 
run the line or enforce jurisdiction over the disputed territory, as 
])roposed by Messrs. Rush and Howard, called an extra session of 
the Legislature to meet on the Sth ol June. That Ijody passed an 
act ' to jirevent the forcible abduction of the citizens of Ohio.' The 
act had reference to counteracting the previous acts of the Legisla- 
tive Council of Michigan, and made the offense jjunishable in the 
jienitentiary not le.ss than three nor more than seven years. An act 
was aLso passed to create the new county of Lucas out of the north 
part of Wood county, and embracing tlie disputed territory north 
of it, and a jwrtion of the northwest corner of Sandusky county. 
It attached the county to the Second Judicial Circuit, made Toledo 
the temporary seat of justice, and directed the Court of Common 
Pleas to be held on the first Monday of September then next, at any 
convenient house, in Toledo. 

"An act was also passed, making ajtpropriations to carry into 
effect all laws in regard to the norfliern boundary. Three hun- 
dred thousand dollars were appropriated out of the treasury, ami 
the Governor was authorized to borrow three hundred thousand 
more on the credit of the State. A resolution was adopted inviting 
the President to appoint a Commissioner to go with the Ohio C(»m- 
missioners, to run and re-mark the Harris liine. 

'•These proceedings changed the issue. The proceedings of the 
previous regular session of the Legislature, made liichard Ii(«e or 
Michigan, defendant, but now the United States became defendant 
as claimant of title in fee. The determined attitude of Michigan to 
prevent Ohio from exercising any authority over the disjiuted terri- 
tory, aroused a ft'cling of State pride that could not well brook the 
idfa, that the thinly iiopulat<?d Territory of Michigan, with her 



254 loledo Pnnislied for Fidelity to Ohio's, Cause. 

stripling Governor, should snccessfnlly defy Old Governor Lucas, 
and the military power of a State of a ' million' inhabitants. Gov- 
ernor Lucas, through his Adjutant General, Samuel C. Andrews, 
called upon the Division Commanders to report as soon as possible, 
the number of men in each Division that would volunteer to sustain 
him in enforcing the laAvs over the disputed territory. Fifteen out 
of seventeen Divisions into which the State was divided, reported 
over ten thousand men ready to volunteer. About two thousand 
men were estimated for the two Divisions that did not report. 
These proceedings on the part of Ohio exasperated the authorities 
of Michigan. They dared the Ohio ' million ' to enter the disputed 
ground ; and ' welcomed them to hospitable graves.' Prosecutions 
for holding office under the laws of Ohio, were conducted with 
greater vigor than ever. For a time, the people of Monroe county 
were kept busy m acting as the sheriff's posse, to make arrests in 
Toledo. The commencement of one suit would lay the foundation 
for many others. Probably there is no town in the West (always 
excepting Lawrence, in Kansas) that has suffered more for its alle- 
giance to its government than Toledo. 

"The partisans of Ohio were continually harassed by the authori- 
ties of Michigan for the greater part of the summer of 1835. An 
attempt was made by the authorities of Ohio to retaliate in kind ; 
but for some reason or other the accused would manage to escape 
into Michigan proper, or hide at home. Whenever the sheriff of 
.Wood county attempted to make an arrest, there would generally be 
spies watching his coming and communicate the fact to the accused 
persons in time to hide, or make their escape out of the place. The 
town was kept in a great uproar much of the time in watching the 
movements of the Bailiffs of Monroe and Wood counLies." 

The following letter, and proceedings of a public meeting, though 
out of their chronological order, are given to exhibit the policy and 
disposition of Michigan : 

Toledo, Wood County, Ohio, March 1st, 1835. 
His Excellency Robert Lucas, Governor of Ohio : 

Sir : — At the request of a large number of my fellow-citizens, I 
hasten to advise you of the aspect of our affairs in this quarter of the 
State, that your Excellency may adopt such measures to protect 
their rights and maintain the laws of the State, as under existing 
circumstances may be deemed necessary. 

A notice was last week issued, calling a meeting at Tremaius • 
ville, of " the citizens of that portion of the State of Ohio 



Aiidreii' PnhiKr to (rniwrnor /.KCftx. 



lying north of iin east and west line drawn through the southern 
fxlii'ino or bind «)r hnkv Michigan, and which liad hiTetoforr been 
uiidtr th(.' tcniporarv jurLsdiction of the 'IV-niturial govt-rnmLMit (»f 
Michigan.'* The objc(!t of this meeting was to spread intelligence 
among the j)eoi)le, and to prepare them for the extension of the 
jurisdiction of the State to its entire constitutional limits, and to 
guard against any ciumce of division by the industrious efforts of 
certain emissaries, who had been sent out Ijy the acting (Jovernor 
of Michigan to create an interest in favcu- of the Territory, and to 
prevent the oinration of the laws ol Ohio. The meeting assemltled 
yesterday afternoon, to the numl>er of some three hundred persons. 
A deputation was sent out from Michigan, consisting of General 
Brown, of L'uawee county: (ieneral Uninplirey, of Monroe: Mr. 
Bacon, <»f the Legislative Council, antl a number of the judicial and 
military officers of ^^ouroe county, ostensil)ly to confer and consult 
with our citizens, but whose real ol»j( ct was to overawe and divide 
our meeting. As the nature of their visit was understood, a resolu- 
tion was uiumimously passed, at the commencement of the meeting, 
inviting all strangers, who might feel any interest in its proceedings, 
to atteml : but declaring it " indecorous, improper, and out of 
order" h)r any persons to take part in its deliberations who was 
not interested as a resident of Ohio, or called bv the language of the 
notice under which we had assembled. 

N<itvvithstanding this decisive aiul unanimous resolution of our 
citizens, repealed elforts were made by (feneral Brown, tiir<nigh his 
associates, to get a hearing fnun our audience and to procure the 
reading of an order from the acting (i(jvernor of Michigan. It at 
h-ngth cann- into the hands of a citizen, who happened to be in the 
Michigan interest, and who had just received a commission from 
Oovernor Mason, and the order was by him ottered to the meeting, 
and permission asked to read it aloud: but as soon as the sinnature 
was disc(»vered, it was indignantly rejected by the meeting, and its 
reiuling declared o«it of onler, according to the s\nv\i of our tirst 
resolution. The purport of this order, as I afterwards learned, was 
certain instructions from acting (Jovernoi- Mason, to General lirown, 
to proceed forthwith to this place, and other towns in the north- 
western part of Ohio, and to ascertain wiiat public olhcers were in 
tin- interest of the State, for the purjjose of having them removed, 
and replaced by others more loyal to the cause of Michigan. And 
il'. after all his etibrts, he could not create a division, or raise a jtartv 
iiiiioug our citizens, sufficiently strong to nniintaiti fh<- laws of 
-Michigan, then to raise a posse and i)roceed forthwith with the 
pui)lic authorities of the adjacent counties, and forcibly suitjtort 
the jurisdiction of Michigaii, and, particularly, to put into effect 
the late unconstitutiotuil and unprecedented enactments of the Fx'g- 
islative Council of the Territory, subjecting our citizens to a fine 
of one tlnmsjind dollars and imprisonment at hard laltor, for a 
term of five years, if I hey should so far a.ssert their rights as to 



250 Meeting at Toledo. 



receive or hold a commission under the State, from whose consti- 
tution they had a right to claim protection. Bnt notwithstanding 
all this, and in the very presence of these very gentlemen who had 
come to promulgate these mandates — to put into execution these 
instructions, and to overawe the populace — when the special mes- 
sage of your Excellency, and the resolutions and enactments of the 
General Assembly of Ohio, extending to them their rights as 
citizens of the State, and the protection of its laws, were read, 
the meeting strongly and firmly resolved to support the laws and 
constitution of Ohio. To this resolution there were but four or 
five voices in the negative. 

After the meeting had aeljourned. General Brown read his order 
to the populace, and assured them tuat the laws of Michigan should 
be enforced, and that before the State of Ohio should extend her 
jurisdiction over this part of her constitutional limits, she would 
have to march over the dead bodies of that jjoriion of her citizens who 
had heretofore been under the jiirisdictioii of Michigan. 

Every ettbrt has been made by General i3rown and his emissaries 
to create divisions and intimidate our citizens. For this purpose 
threats were used — the aid of the General Government was I'reely 
pledged to those who would come out on the side of Michigan — and 
where intimidation and threats failed to produce the effect, commis- 
sions were freely offered and granted. 

I herewith send you the last number of the "Michigan Sentinel," 
from which your Excellency will be able to gather the feelings 
and sentiments of the citizens of that part of the Territory upon 
the subject, which, from its immediate vicinity, and from its former 
relations to us, has it in its power materially to harass and oppress 
our citizens. 

With sentiments of deepest respect, 

I am, sir, your Excellency's obedient servant, 

ANDREW Palmer. 



MEETING AT TOLEDO. 

An adjourned meeting of the citizens of Toledo was held in the 
village, at the house of J. B. Davis, on Friday, April 10th, 18o5, to 
take into consideration what further arrangements were proper to 
protect the citizens from lawless aggression and violence. 
After a few remarks from several gentlemen present, it was 
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to wait upon Governor 
Lucas and ascertain how far the citizens of this town may rely upon 
the protection of the State in defending their rights under her laws 
and constitution, and to consult and concert such measures as 
may be proper and expedient. 



(I'oi'i rnor IjIIiii,' ritl/s an Kctra ScMsia/i. 



i.';)i 



liesnlred, further. That said committee consist of siicli oflTir-ers 
a-<. iiiuliT llic ivci-nt punul eimctmiMits of the territorial ((Miiicil <>t" 
Michi^^Mii, Imvc reiiili'red Ihi-inselvi'.s liahlf to the laws of the t<'iri- 
ti-rv : that hv personal eoiisiiltation a>ul advice, they may ht- pn-- 
pannl to act hoth with j)rudetK't' and decision. Adjourned. 

.KlirX l'.AId)\vi\. Cltniruuut. 

HaXTKK I'.oWMAN, Srrrrldri/. 



(tuvernor Liiciis timling it iin|tra<ticalile to run the line or enforce 
jurisdiction over the disputed territory called an extra session of 
the Legislature on the sth of .luue, and issued :i message, from 
wliich the following is an extract : 

'* It api)ears to me the honor an<l faith of tin- Stale is pledged, in 
the most solemn manner, to protect these people in their rights, and 
to defend them against all (»utrages. They claim to he citii^eus of 
Ohio. The Legislature by a solemn act has declared them to he such, 
and has required tiiem to obey the laws of Ohio, which, as good 
citizens, they have done : aiitl for which they have been ])ersecuted, 
prosecuted, assaulted, arrested, abducted and imprisoned. Some of 
them have been driven from their homes in ihvad and terror, while 
others are menaced by the auth<.irities ol Michigan. These things 
have been all done within the constitutional boundaries of the State 
of Ohio, where our laws have been directed to be enforced. Are we 
not under as great an obligation to command respect and obedience 
to our laws adjoining our northern boundary as in any other part of 
the State? Are not the inhaliitants <»f lA)rt Lawrence, on the Mjiumee 
Jiay, JUS much entitled to our protection as the citizens (d' ( 'incinnati 
on the ()hio river ? I feel convinced they are e<|ually a miiicIi. (>ur 
commissioners appoinU'd in obedience to the act of tin- 2;>d ni' 
February, while in discharge of the tluty jussigned them, were 
assaulted while resting on I lie Sabl»alh day, by an armed force 
from .Michigan. Some i»f the hands were (ired on, others arrested, 
and one Colonel Fletcher is now incarcerated in Tecumseh, (as will 
i)e s«'en by his letter,) and for what ? Is it for crime? No ; but for 
faithfully discharging his duty, as a good citizen of Ohio, in obedi- 
ence to our laws. These outrageous transgressions dennmd your 
most serious consideration, and I earnestly lecommend, and cunfi- 
'lently iioi>e, that such nu-asures »vill be adopted jis will atford 
protection to our citizens; provide for the relief of those who have 
been arresteil, and bound under recognizances; and for the liberation 



258 Governor Lnca^ Mesmge. 



of those who are imprisoned ; as also for the indemnity of those 
who have suffered loss in consequence of their obedience to the laws 
of Ohio; and, in an especial manner, fur the more prompt exeeulion 
of our laws, and the punishment of those who have violated them. 
You may rest assured tliat whatever course you may direct, will be 
promptlv pursued by the Executive, and that all your laws shall be 
faithfully executed, as far as his power extends; but, for their effec- 
tual enforcement, you have to furnish him with the necessary means. 

"In the documents annexed for your inspection and considera- 
tion will be found all the correspondence of the Executive relative 
to carrying into effect the act of the 23d of February; which 
embraces the correspondence with the Department of State at 
Washington ; the communications received from Messrs. Eush and 
Howard, United States Commissioners; the opinion of the Attor- 
ney General of the United States ; the correspondence with the 
Surveyor General of the United States, together with sundry docu- 
ments relative to running the northern boundary of Ohio ; the held 
notes of the survey of the line run by Mr. Harris, under the direc- 
tion of the Surveyor General of the United States ; a letter from 
Governor Cass objecting to Harris' line, with the Surveyor Genei'al's 
reply, contending that that- line was run in accordance with the act 
of Congress, and was the true northern boundary of Ohio, together 
with sundry other letters relative to the subject of our boundary, 
and the extension of our jurisdiction, all worthy of a minute inves- 
tigation. 

" The subject of our northern boundary has excil;ed considerable 
attention throughout the nation, and as far as can be learned from 
the tone of the papers, great exertions are making to raise feelings 
unfavorable to Ohio, forestalling public opinion to her prejudice, 
without reference to the merits of our claim, and all principally 
upon the ground that Ohio is a great, powerful State ; Michigan a 
weak and small territory, (while in fact Michigan has a greater 
extent of territory than Ohio.) This appears to be the substance 
of every argument from the beginning to the end o1" this contro- 
versy. We find it in the first letter of Governor Cass to the Sur- 
veyor General, so early as 1817. We also find it in the arguments 
of the ex-President in the last Congress, as well as in all the inter- 
mediate arguments. But what is the true state of the case? Ohio 
has oppressed nobody — she claims no territory more than what is 
defined in her constitution ; while, on the other hand, we find the 



Governnr Linuis 3fe>-s(t//<\ 2r>0 



Ltrritory of ^^i('lli!:^!lM (who can Iwivc no Ici^Miitnatr rliiini lo sovor- 
t'ignty, iis hor i^'ovi'mnicnt, :it any time, may In- dissolved l»y Con- 
i^ress, and Ww territory north of ()hio attached to tliis State) 
exerting all the })owt'r of her tc'nij>urary or territorial government, 
to oppress the small village of Toh'do, pnnishing its inliahitants, 
not for erime, hut for claiming their constitutional rights. In this 
transaction we see the great and i)owerfnl city of Detroit, aided hy 
the authorities ol the territory united to o])i)res8 and weaken the 
small village of Toledo, on the Maumee Hay. But the true parties 
in the controversy are the United States and the State of Ohio ; 
and l«'t nif ask which is the weaker party in this controversy? 
Surely it will not he contended that the great and gigantic State of 
Ohio (as she has been tauntingly called) is al»out to wi-aken the 
United States, by claiming her constitutional rigiits; or ti)at, by 
enforcing these, her just <;laims, she would be making the weak 
weaker, and the strong still more powerful, according to the argu- 
ments of our op})onents. Arguments of this kind may suit those 
who wish toavftid the truth, t(» shun the light, and carry their j)oint, 
right or wrong, by their dipionnitic management : but in my view 
these arguments are too contracted to meet the a|)probation of liberal- 
minded statesmen. Is not Ohio a member of the Union ? Does 
not she form a component jiart of the United States? Will not any 
measure calculated to promote the prosperty of Ohio als(» promote 
the prosperity of the United States? Why, then, should jealousy 
be excited against Ohio ? Why the extreme exertions of many 
editors of newsjmpers, and other in<lividual.s, in some of the States, 
to forestall public opinion, and make impressions unfavorable to 
Ohio, without examining the justice <»f our cause? Is this course 
liberal ? Is it just? We think not. 

" With a desire to ascertain all the facts connecti-d with the contro- 
versy relative [i. iiur nortJH-rn boundary, I have devoted what time 
I could spare from otin-r duties, to a minut*- examination of the 
subject. In doing this, 1 collected extracts from all the original 
charters by which the territory northwest of the river Oliio was origi- 
nally claimed ; also from the seveml deeds of cession, resolutions of 
Congress, ordinances and act^j relative to the territory northwest of 
the river Ohio, the organization of temporary or territorial govern- 
ment, and the formation of States therein ; all which extracts will 
be submitted to your considenition, as an appendix to this com- 
munication. These extracts will present to you a full view of the 



260 Governor Lucas' Message. 

subject, and must have a tendency to contirni all who examine them 
dispassionately, in the opinion that the claim of Ohio is just and 
incontrovertible. By them it will be seen that the territory now 
claimed by Michigan was originally included in the grant to Con- 
necticut, and that that State did not cede lier right of jurisdiction to 
the United States over that portion of territory bordering on the 
lake, and known as the " Western Reserve," till the year 1800, many 
years after the Ordinance of 1787 was passed ; which Mr. Adams 
declared, in his famous speech in the last Congress, "to be as unal- 
terable as the laws of nature;'' yet the line contended for by Michi- 
gan, agreeably to said Oi'dinance, would run east through tliat 
district of country to which Congress had no claim, either of soil 
or jurisdiction, at the time this Ordinance was passed. The more 
I examine the subject, the more convinced 1 am that our claim is 
just and incontrovertible; that it is a settled question ; and that we 
are under as solemn an obligation to maintain our jurisdiction over 
the town of Port Lawrence, on the Maumee Bay, as we are to main- 
tain it over any township on the Ohio river. 

" Gentlemen, tJie whole subject is now before you for considera- 
tion. The question necessarily arises, what shall be done? Shall 
we abandon our just claim, relinquish our indispu tabic rights and 
proclaim to the world that the acts and resolutions of the last, 
session of the General Assembly were mere empty things ? Or, 
rather, shall we not (as was declared in said resolutions to be our 
duty) prepare to carry their provisions into effect ? The latter, I 
doubt not, will be your resolution ; and I trust that by your acts, 
you will manifest to the world that Ohio knows her constitutional 
rights ; that she has independence enough to assert them ; and that 
she can neither be seduced by flattery, baffled by diplomatic man- 
agement, nor driven by menaces from the support of those rights. 
And, gentlemen, you may rest assured, that whatever measures, in 
your wisdom, you may direct, will be faithfully pursued by the 
Executive, to the full extent of his constitutional i)Ower, and the 
means that maybe placed under his control. 

'• Very respectfully, &c., 

'•Robert Lucas." 
"Columbus, O., June 8th, 1835.'' 



Atteitqjt to Ari'est Two Stiehney. 261 

This session of the Legishiturc passed an act " to prevent the 
forcilde abduction of the citi/A-ns of Oiiio." The act had reference to 
counteract inu; the i)ri'vious acts of the Legishitive council of Michigan, 
and made the olfense punisliable in the penitentiary not less than 
three nor more than seven years. An act was also passed to create 
the new county of Lucas out of the north part of Wood county, 
and embracing the disjiuted territory north of it, and a portion of 
the northwest corner of Sandusky county. It attached the county 
to the Second .Judicial Circuit, made Toledo the temi)orary seat of 
justice, and directed the Court of Common Pleas to l)e held on the 
lirst Monday of September following, at any convenient house. 

Fre(|uent arrests and imprisonments in the Monroe jail occurred. 
An attempt to arrest Two Stick ney, and to re-arrest McKay, proved 
ineflectual, as is seen l>y the following artidavit : 

Territory of Michigan, [ ^^ 
}fonroe County^ S 

Personally came before All)ert Bennett, a Justice of the Peace 
within and for the county aforesaid, Lyman Hurd, who being duly 
sworn, t^aid that on the loth day of July, 1835, this deponent, who 
is a constable within the county aforesaid, went to Toledo in said 
county, for the purpose of executing a warrant against Geo. McKay, 
in behalf of the United States. 

This deponent was accompanied by Joseph Wood, deputy sheriff 
of said county. Said Wood had in his hands a warrant against Two 
Stickjiev. This deponent and said Wood went into the tavern of J. 
\\. Davis, in the villaire of Toledo, where they found said Stickney 
and McKav. This tleponent inforni'-d McKay that he had a war- 
rant for him, and there attempt. m1 to arrest McKay. The latter 
then sprang and caught a chair, and told this deponent that 
unless he desisted, he wctuld split him down. This deponent saw 
McKay have a dirk in his hand. At the time this deponent was 
attempting to arrest McKay, Mr. Wood attempted to arrest Stick- 
nev. Wood laid his hand on Sticknev's shoulder, and took him 
bv' his eollar; and after Wood and Stickney had scuffled for a 
shoit time, this d'i)oneirt saw Stickney draw a dirk out of the left 
siil'^ of Wood, anil exclaim, "There, damn you, you have got it 
now." This d' ponent then saw Wood let go from Stickney, and 
put his hanil up<'>n his side, apparently in distress, and went to tin- 
door. 'I'his depotient asked Wood if lie was 8tabl)ed. Wood said, 
very faintly, that he wa.s. This deponent then went with Wood to 
Ira Smith's tavern. A i)hysiciaQ * was then called in on the request 
of W.mhI. The physician thought it doubtful whether "Wood recov- 

• Or. Jacob Clnrk, yet a citizen of Toledo, . 



262 An Ohio Mission to Washington. 

ered. This deponent thinks there were from six to eight persons 
present at the time this deponent and Wood were attempting to 
arrest McKay and Stickney. None of them interfered. At the 
time Wood informed Stickney that he had a precept against him. 
Stickney asked Wood whether his precept was issued under the 
authority of Ohio or Michigan. When Wood showed him the war- 
rant, Stickney said he should not be taken ; but if it was under 
Oliio, he would go. 

This deponent thinks that at the time Wood was stabbed, it was 
between three and four o'cloclv in the afternoon, and this de})onent 
remained there about tliree hours. Before this deponent left, the 
inhabitants of Toledo, to the number of forty or fifty, collected at 
Davis' tavern. This deponent was advised, ior his own safety, to 
leave the place, and also l)y the advice of Wood, he returned to 
Monroe, without having executed his precept. And further this 
deponent saith not. 

Lyman Hurd. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this sixteenth day of July, 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-live. 

Albert P>urnett, J. P. 

These proceedings were reported by Governor Mason, to President 
Jackson, who was strongly impressed with the necessity of interpos- 
ing some check to the evident tendency towards serious trouble. 

Governor Lucas, perceiving considerable uneasiness at Washing- 
ton, for the peace of the country, had sent to Washington, N. H. 
Swayne, W. Allen, and D. T. Disney, to confer with the President 
on the subject of the boundary difficulties. 

The result of this mission was the urgent appeal of the Presi- 
dent for " the mutual suspension until after the next session of 
Congress, of all action that would by possibility produce colli- 
sion, and the assurance of an earnest recommendation would be 
immediately sent to the acting Governor of Michigan, and the 
other authorities of the Territory, whom he can rigiitfully advise in 
the performance of their duty, " that no obstruction shall be inter- 
posed to the re-marking of 'Harris Line;' that all proceedings 
already begun under the act of February, shall l)e immediately 
discontinued ; that no prosecution shall be commenced for any 
subsequent violations of that act, until after the next session of 
Congress, and that all questions about the disputed jurisdiction 
shall be carefully avoided, and it occurrinii' inevitably, their discus- 
sion shaJl be postponed until the same period." 



Clofifi of the ControverRi/. 203 



"The iirrMiiLjcmciit of iIk- .'Jd tif July, nuulo with McPHrs. Swayne, 
Alien, ami Disiiiv. t1«liiu'tl llif hasc of (•iicratidiis lor Ohio. Shf* 
now had 111"' dircitt j)n»mi.so ol' lh<' I'lvsidcnt. Ihat \\v would advise 
that 'no ol)stru<;tit)n shall he intorposi'il to tlu; n'-niarkinfr of thi* 
Harris Line, t'tc." Vet, the authorities of Michi;,'an entirely disre- 
irarded these urran;;;einents, and the Hnal adjustineiit of the dilliculty 
was not elleetetl until the next session of Conj^ress, wheru on the 
15(h of June, IS:;G, Michij^iin was admitted into the Union with 
licr fiouthern houndary next to Ohio limited to the Harris Line, and 
the disputed territory was f,Mven to Ohio, t'onj^ress j^ave Michigan 
the valuable mineral lantis adjoininp Lake Superior, to make up the 
loss (d" the territory give!i to Ohio." 

Thus, through the ascendency of euncilialory and stalesnian-like 
counsels prevailing at Coluinhus and Washington, this angry strife 
was hajipily settled, and Iranquil and fraternal relations have since 
}Mevailed between the citizens of the Stales of Ohio and Michigan. 

The Tole(h) Bhiile, of June :i9th, 1836, contains the proceedings 
(d" a meeting held on the Saturday i)revious (2oth of June), con- 
veneil to celebrate the settlement of the boundary <|uestion. As 
rllustrating the temper of the people, at that date, the report states 
that, agreeably to previous arrangements, the day was ushered in at 
sunrise by the tiring of cannon and ringing id" bells. Appropriate 
banners were waving from the windows of the different hotels and 
liul)lic Imildings. The firing was kept np at intervals during the 
morning. At three o'clock, r. M., the citizens and many distin- 
guished strangers present, assemi)h-d at the Mansion ll'Mise, and 
having formed a procession, proceeded to the school house, where 
a short but appropriate adtlress was delivered by Emery D. Potter, 
Ks<|. .Viler the address, the procession returned to the Mansion 
House, and partook of a dinner which had been prepared for the 
occasi(t:i, in Mr. Segur's best style. The cloth having been removed, 
the following toasts were drank, and sentiments given, which were 
severally received and cheered in the most enihusiastic manner by 
the company. The first toast was the following, given by J. H. 
Macey. of liulfalo : 

Tiir riti-.ms tif ToUvlo. — 'i'he present growth of this village is a 
true indication of their enterpri.'^e and industry. May it continue 
until Toledo shall be the great city of the proud State <d' Ohio. 

Toasts were also given by W. J. Daniels, Hon. Joel McCulluni. of 
Lockport, New York; Andrew Palmer, General McUiughliu, of the 



264 Toledo in 1816. 



Ohio Senate; E. D. Potter, Kev. Mr. Bradbiirn, of Nantucket, 
Rhode Island ; A. J. XJnderhill, of New York : Dr. George E. Per- 
kins, S. R. Beardsley, of Otsego county, New York ; Dr. H. B. 
Stilhuan, John J. Newcombe, George H. Rich, Roswell Cheney, and 
others. Appropriate addresses were made Iw Messrs. Beardsley and 
Potter, and also by Judge John T. Baldwin, President of the day. 
TOLEDO IN" 1816. 
Judge Baldwin said: "Gentlemen, I have long looked for this 
day. I have sometimes thouglit that I should not live to see it ; but 
I have lived to see justice, although tardy in her movements, at last 
triumphant. I came here twenty years ago, when there was nobody 
here but Indians, except M;ijor IStickney. I used to wander along 
down through the bushes to meet him, when we wuiild talk this 
subject over as a matter of diversion, for we were so weak that we 
could do but little else, as nobody seemed to pay much attention to 
what we said, there being luit two of us living on the 'disputed 
ofround.' " 



(• II A i"i" K i; \'. 

TIIK '• l,()(i-C.\i;iN,' l)U -IIAUK < ll>l-:ii" (AMlAKiN Ul' 1"^K». 

Tbciu! can exist lU) reason why tlie people kC llie Maiimt e N'alley, 
wliose impulses iTicliTicd tliemto hero worship, shniihl not have })epn 
ardently attaelied to the fortunes of (4eneral Harrison, whose mili- 
tary cajtacity, after In- became investi'd with the command ol the 
Northwestern Army, retrieved former disasters, an<l L;ave security 
to the exposed frontier. Their support othim. as against anij other 
party or candidate, became almost a duty. .At this distance of 
time, and when the issues involve<l in that contest have perished, 
the writer i>f this, who t'avorcd tltf clt'ciidii o( Mr. \ ;iii lluren, who 
was a statesman and not a soldier, can aiVord to say this without 
making any ai)ology for the choice he then made. 

The election of |K4() was one characterized by features which 
had no precedent in popular movements, in this or any other 
country recognizing the people as the source of pf»wer in the State. 
Williauj Henry Harrison, of Ohio. ;md .Fohn Tyhi'. '^f N'irginia, 
were nominated liy a Whig Convention, which assembled at Harris- 
burg, Pennsylvania, for the Presidency and Vice Presidency of (he 
United States, December Ith. Is:;!>. '["he candidates of the Demo- 
cratic party, in competition with this ticket, were Martin \ wx: 
Bnren, of New York, and Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky. 

f4eneral Harrison, although a native of N'irginia. was ;» Western 
man — had been conspicuously identified with all the conllicts with 
the Intlians, commencing when but twenty-on<' years ot" age as :iid 
to (Jeneral Anthony W.ayne, in Ii'.M,and closing ;is ( 'nmmander-in 
( 'hief of the Northwestern ,\rmy. with the brilliant \icl<>ry over 
the combined British ami lieli.ui lorc.es at the battle of tin- Tliaiii'^ 
in ( 'anada. in I si:;. 

These were the candidates. Alter the noniiii.it ion of liarn-on. a 
Wasliington corre;pondc(it of a H,m1i iniore paper, who subse.jiiently 



266 The Political Campaign of 1840. 

became a Harrison man, referred to the candidate of the Wlii<^ 
party as one whose habits and attainments Avould secure him the 
highest measure of liappiness in a log cabin witli an abundant 
supply of hard cider. This ill-chosen and hapless phrase was seized 
upon by the crafty politicians of the other side, and made to form 
the key note of the campaign. 

Log cabins, constructed after the frontier style of rude archi- 
tecture, their walls ornamented with coon-skins, and their intei'ior 
abundantly supplied with cider, which was genei'ally drank from 
gourds, constituted the " wigwams "' where all the in-door gatherings 
of the Whigs were held. 

The space on State street, now occupied hy the Atheneum, oppo- 
site the State House square, embracing an area of one hundred and 
fifty by one hundred and eighty-eight feet, was occupied by a log 
cabin, constructed by the joint personal ettbrts of Alfred Kelly, 
Thomas Ewing, Koah H. Swayne, Dr. Goodale, Michael Sullivant, 
William Neil, and otliers. 

On the eve of the annivei-sary of Washingtoifs birthday, (;i 1st 
February, 1.S40,) the cami)aign, on the part of Harrison's friends, 
was opened in Ohio by an illumination of all Whig dwellings in the 
Capital. Columbus then had a population of six thousand. The 
number of transient visitoi's who participated in the celebi*ation 
of the following day, exceeded in number more than three-fold the 
then residents of the city, — the largest number that had ever at that 
time been massed at Columbus. Every hotel and boarding house 
was crowded to its utmost, and the hospitality of the citizens, and 
especially ot the Whig fiunilies, had no limit. The weather was 
imusually inclement. Heavy rains had swollen the streams, and the 
principal streets between the sidewalks were covered with a depth 
of mud that reachetl, on an average, near to ojie's ankles But the 
ardor of the enthusiastic processions Avas not, dampened by these 
discointbrts ; and above the angry voice of the elements rose the 
triumj>hant peal of loud mouthed cannon and exultjxnt strains of 
twenty bands of music. 

The Maumee Valley poured out its legions in this monster meet- 
ing. From the description of the ])rocession published in the 
Columbus (Ohio) (h)}if('(lcralc aiul Old School Republican, edited by 
that most estimable gentleman, recinitly deceased, John G. Miller, 
Esq., is extracted the following relating to the representation from 
JMorthwestern Ohio: 



The Political Campaign of 1840. 2(37 

" There is indeed an attractive object. That is Fort Meir/s. The 
imitation is perfect. How fraught is it with engrossing and impres- 
sive history ! How much does it tell of the gallant man who at 
this moment occupies the thoughts and the hopes of his country- 
men ! It was no common zeal which stimulated the feelings of 
those who constructed that fabric — and well have they perfected 
the design. Those six fine horses which draw the interesting bur- 
den have imbibed the very spirit of Fort Meigs; — mark the dignity 
of their motion, and the military precision of their steps. ' The 
length of the fort is twenty-eight feet — its embankments six inches 
high, surmounted by piquets of ten inches.' Its garrison is forty 
men. The block houses, seven in number. ' The whole structure 
is a beautiful as well as perfect representation of the spot where 
Harrison achieved a victory which has incorporated his name and 
those of the brave men whom he commanded with the never-dying 
glory of his country. Observe those guns — twelve cannon, ' with 
appropriate mountings — are properly disposed at the lotteries,' and 
that little 'brass spokesman, cast at the Toledo I'oundry,' is about to 
tell its 'iron tale' in imitation of its 'illustrious predecessors,' 
which spoke to fearful and destructive purpose in May. l-s];}. Look 
at those flag-staffs, thirty feet^n height. See floating from the fore- 
most of them, that signal of virgin white, and read the inscription 
it displays : 

' FOKT MEIC4S, 

'Besieged Mai/, 1813. 

'Tell General Proctor when he gets possession of the Fort, he 
' will gain more honor, in the estimation of his King and country, 
' than he would acquire by a thousand capitulations.' 

And on the streamer of the other are the last words of the brave, 
expiring Lawrence — "' Don't give up the ship ! " And yet another 
banner flies at the extremity of the fort which, addressing the leaders 
of faction, advises them that they arc " weighe<l in the balance and 
found wanting." 

But details of this memorable alfair can not here be given. Unv. 
resolution adopted by the great meeting is, in conclusion, ;q)pcndcd : 

" Resolved, That it be i-econimended to the young men of the 
States of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Western New 
York, Pennsylvania, and \'irginia, to celebrate the next anniversary 
of the raising of the siege of Fort Meigs, in June, ISlI}, on the 
ground occupied by that lort," 



268 Tlie Political Campaign of 1840. 

In pursuance of this recommendation there assembled at the 
appointed time and place, a concourse of people variously estimated 
at from thirty-five to forty thousand, and embracing representatives 
from every State and Territory in the Union. Probably never 
before or since, in the annals of the country, has there occurred a 
more enthusiastic or impressive pageant. All classes and condi 
tions, rich and poor, aged and young, '' fair women and l^rave men,'' 
lent their presence and ardor. (Jeneral Harrison's veterans and many 
of the country's rare statesmen, orators and humorists were there to 
hcmor. each in his own attractive way, the hero of the siege. The mer- 
chant lelt his counter, the i'armer his lieids, the mechanic his bench, 
to join in the shouts of applause and exultation, while cannon, mus- 
ketry, cliurch bells and martial music rent the air again and again ! 
Nature, too, smiled from her brightest sky upon the green banks, the 
glancing waters, the lieautiful towns of Perrysburg and Maumee, 
the gleaming l)a)mers waving over the victory — honored fort and 
British batteries — all coml)ining to give the celebration the pride 
and glory, if not ma'^niHceiice. of a Eoman triumph. 

General Harrison's speech on this occasion was more than usu.ally 
elegant and scholarly. Of other names recorded among the speakers 
are Colonels Todd and « jlarkson, ol' Kentucky, former officers under 
(Tcneral Harrison during the siege; Hon. Thomas Ewing ; General 
Woodbridge, of Michigan, (4enerHl Poi-d ; John R. Osborn, Esq.., 
then of JS'orwalk, now of Toledo, who, on this occasion, rendered 
himself conspicuous in an eifort which challenged the encomiums 
of some of the most dislingnished i)eisoiis present : Hon. Oliver 
Johnson, ol Michigan; Dr. .Smith, of Monroe, Michigan; Mr. 
Robert Hchenck, of Dayton ; George C. Bates, Esq., of Detroit ; 
Messrs. Dawson and Brooks, of Detroit ; Mr. Saxton, an old Revo- 
lutionary soldier, from Connecticut; James P'itch, of Now York; 
Hon. E. Cook, of Sandusky City, delivered a brilliant oration; Mr. 
Chamberlain, a blacksmith, from Kinderhook, gave a humorous and 
witty discourse. Ucv. Joseph Badger, the Chaplain in 1813, 
eighty-live years of age in 1S4(), offered the opening prayer. Mr. 
Titus, of '^foledo, was called M{)on for a song, and responded repeat- 
edly to the loud ou-.orc. 

Conspicuous among the military was the battalion from Buffalo, 
under Major Pay, embracing the Buffalo Klying Artillery, Buffalo 
CJity Guards, La Payette Guards, Washington Guards, and Fredonia 
Guards ; the Toledo Guards, tmder the command ol Captain C. W, 



/nr/\/>/if.^ rchitliKi l>> otli, r I *nl il ind Contests. I'Ci'.l 

Hill, tlifii OIK" <it"(li(' in'st ilrilU'tl :iii<l i'<|uijiii(.'t| vuliiiitccr compaiiirs 
III tin- NVtst; the ("l('vel:in<l ( Ircys, mi<ltr Caplaiii Iiigraliam : tin- 
Siiiiiinit ( iiiaitls, tVniii AkiDii. A r()tii|i:uiy ni l^ng-Cabin Ixtys, in 
liiiiniliN 1- uniform. iVoin (ii'aiijj;.i county, ami an Imlian comiiany. 

Tilt' slt'uinlioats associated witli this nicnior.'ible <lay were, llic 
■• C'omiuoilori' I'ciry.'' which brought, ihc <U'lt'gation from Jin ll'alo 
the nii^lit piuv ions, and on the nioniiiij; made a liij) to Tolctl<». 
rt'tinninn witii (Icncral Harrison, ami l.idt'n with ciLizcn-s; '"(icncral 
Wayne, "'* United States." '(Jeneral Scott,' '' Uoche.ster,'' " Star." 
'•Huron." '•Macomb." '' .leH'erson," "Sandusky," " ConiiiK rcc," 
'• l^ady 111' I lie I.akc, ' •• \':ince." and *' Chesapeake." 

And here is closed a brie! skctcli of the most iniposinu |io|)iilar 
deuioutjtration that at thai time had occurred in the United Stales. 
The ground, and m.iiiy ol the distinguished actors, were associated 
with some of the ino^t iiilcicsting events recorded in Anieiit an 
history. 



The following iinideiil'^ relating to other political campaigns are 
appended : 

During the Presidential <Mniesi of !sr)(», David Toil, (who may 
be ilesignated as ••a [tolitician at large"' during that strife.) .Mfred 
P. Eilgerton, delegate for Congress, and K. C. Le Hlond, who had 
been nou)inated f<tr Common IMeas .Iiidge. met at K:dida for the 
purpose ol' addressing a meeting of their pttlitical friends. Mr. Tod 
had been so unfortunate as to have had his satcliel st<den, in\ol\ing 
the I0.SS not only ol" documentary matter, which formed much ul 
the thumb^r, which he fulminated from the slump, but of his linen, 
and it so happened that by reason of considerable travel in tin' cars 
and over dusty ro.ads, his only linen left him. then upon his person, 
w :is in a cundilinn that would eMiliaii:i>s him in appearing Itetme an 
audience composed of some l.idies as well as gentlemen. In this 
dilemma his friends came to his aid. Kdgerlon produced from his 
baggage a crlean shirt, which, though lilting his own person, wante<l 
several inches t<i enable one ot' the more capacious form of 'I'od to 
(•rowd into. A knife, ln)W«'ver, vigorously handled, soim elVcctcd 
an opening in the hack, and a c<dlar Irom Le Mlond's stock of linen 
was made to reach something more than lialf the circMmiference ol' 
Tod's neck; and thus appareled, he appeared upon the stanil, ami 
made tlie best showini: he could under the circumstances. At 



2*70 IncidenM relating to otlier Political Contests. 

every sliglit pause in his speech, Le Blond, who was sittins; upon 
the platform directly in his rear, would inquire of him how he was 
getting along in that shirt? 



During a political canvass, in which the late Governor, David 
Tod, and Hon. William SaAvyer, were holding forth to the people 
in behalf of the claims ol' the Democratic party to the popular suf- 
frage, tluiy called at the tavern of Peter Myers, in Perry township, 
Putnam county, for refreshmen^ts. Here they met a crowd, and 
'• the drinks,'' after they alighted, were the first things in order. A 
jug and glasses were soon de])osited on a rough tahle, and the 
vessels first passed to Colonel .Sawyer, who, although never a 
habitual drinker, in his electioneering tours had the reputation of 
possessing more than ordinary capacity for holding beverages con- 
sidered intoxicating. Sawyer poured out a moderate drink, and 
passed the vessel to Tod, who stood beside him, and who, to the 
dismay and astonishment of the former, poured the liquor into his 
glass until it reached the very brim ! After the drinking ceremony 
closed, and the crowd had all partaken, Sawyer turned to Tod, 
and gravely remarked : " Tod, that's the meanest trick I ever had 
j)layed upon me. Here, directly before my eyes, and in presence 
ot my own constituents, who regard me as one of the best drinkers 
in the district, you have illustrated to them that there is une man, 
at least, in Ohio, who can beat him in the quantity of his drink. If 
the district could be considered at all close, this villainous trick of 
yours. Tod, would utterly ruin my chances for re-election.'' 



Alfred P. Edgerton first ap|)eared before the people as a candi- 
date for ofiice in 1845, for the State Senate. Prior to that time, he 
had not been conspicuous in politics, though a staunch Democrat. 
After his nomination, his friends deemed it expedient that he can- 
vass the district, hold meetings, and Ibrm acquaintance with the 
people A meeting was advertised for him to be holden at St. 
Mary's, then known as the capital of " the hoop-pole region,'' He 
reached the town, near the hour named for the meeting, accom- 
panied by two or three friends, all on horse-baisk ; and a little group 
of " sovereigns," clad mostly in hunting shirts, and linsey pants, the 
bottoms of which were crowded into the tops of their stoga boots, 
were standing in front of the tavern in readiness to greet and make 



Inri«1eut.<< rehttimj in nlln r /^Jiliail Oontesfs. 271 

tlic :icqii:iliilanc(> of llioir now caiuTnlato, wlio liatl siifferod Home in 
r<']>iit:it iuii ;iiin>iiij tliein l»y reports tlmt lie li:i«l Ucfii Lcuilly of tin- 
lit'inous practice of payini; uikIuc atU'iiiioii to llic color ami <|iialily 
of liis linen and other appan-l. It lia<l, indeed, <*onie to their ears 
that he was a white-shirted aristocrat. What was their joy, then, 
when Kdi^erton had been recotfnized l»y some one, and ]ioiuteiI ont 
to them, to discover th,'it he was hespattereil with a lilier;»I 
coatini^ of the sam«' swrtnip mud, Irom he:id to foot, that .■idorncl 
their own clothini;', .iikI ihat he was m-arly as r<iii<rli lookinL^ hy 
this reanon. as any ol tlicin. Alij^htinij Irom his horse, in liDiit \A 
till' tavern, and foUowiiiL!; with the ]»;ii'1y into the liar-ronm, the 
nsnal introtluctury '* drinks " were called for. One <d" the veterans 
ol' the liar, who appeareil to l»e master of ceremonies, ranged 
glasses upon the (counter, .md pioceedi-il to pour itilo e.ach about 
e(pi:il (piantities of whiskey ;uid molasses — using <n\v of his lonir, 
thick, unwashed lingers, for the double pm'pose of commingling the 
stutV, and also as a gnage, so that an e.|u:il <|iianlily of the villaincuis 
iDgreilients should be the portion of each. Kdgi'iIcMi r<'g;irde<l the 
proceedings very much with ihr l"eelings of a criminal witnessing 
the jH-eparations tor his own execution, it was an ord<al he had not 
anticipateil ; but when the tinje came, Ik- summoneil all his physical 
and niental forces, and ''by a powerful etfort." swallowed the ilose 
'• like a tnan." This sidunissive resignation to his late, was highiv 
satisfactory to the .i^vcmbleil voters, and prepared their minds to 
fight it through lor him vigorou.sly on thai line. It is said, however, 
that the compound so disgusted him, th.al he forswore whiskey and 
mohisses, and has sincr> remained :in iii<\or:dile tulal abstinence 
man. 

Kdgerton sul»f<iuenl ly became a i-andid.iti- for the ( 'ongressioual 
nomin.ation of his party; and li.id Immmi adxised, through friemls 
at Lima, thai Afich.ael Lealherm.an. wlm had been the previous 
year, a iiepresentative in the Ohio L»'gislature from the comity 
of Allen, was opposing him in his .aspiuiitions. I'rged bv those 
Iriends to \ isit the county, and settle, if possible, the business with 
his only inlluential and active opponent, Kd;;erton, soon appc arcd 
at Lima, and, accomi»ani»'il by his friend, the late Hon. M. 11. 
Nichols, proceedi'd to the residence ot Leathcrin.m, a lew miles 
distant; but on their way, they met the gentleman they sought en 
route to Lima. After the usual salutations, Nichols observed : 



272 Tihc.idenU r elating to otJier Political Contests. 

" Leathermau, Edgerton and myself were on our way to your 
house, witli the purpose of having you together, and see if you 
would not he enahled to settle the matters of diiferenee hetween 
you, and reconcile you to his support for Congress. iS'ow^, you can 
state the trouble right here, so that we can understand it.'' 

"Well," says Leatherman, "the only thing •' ith thith, Etherton. 
I understand from Bol> Skinner that you thould have wrote him 
from I'olumhuth that Auglaithe would have pathed the Legithla- 
thur, when I was in the Houth, and you were in the Thenate, if it 
hadn't been for that damn fool, Leathermau. Now. Etherton, I 
want to know whether you wroth thuth a letter?'' 

'' Mr. Leathermau," replied Edgerton, '• I have uo recollection of 
having written such a letter ; but ii' Bob Skinner says T did, I sup- 
pose I must have written it " 

" Thpoken like a man," rejoined Mr. Leatherman. " I knew you 
was oneth, and il" you had wrjtten thuth a letter, would thay 
thow. Etherton, give nie your hand. You thall have my thup- 
port." 

And so the war-cloud passed, and the happy family all returned 
to Lima, and Allen county was solid in its support of Edgerton. 
Mr. Leatherman. altliougli having a slight impediment in his speech, 
was a man of many good qualities, and a most excellent neighbor, 



In 1856, Mr. Edgerton was advertised to address a Democratic 
meeting at Wauseou. Very few of the population sympathised 
with him in his politics ; nevertheless he obtained the use of a 
church in which to make a speech. A large majority of his audi- 
ence were Republicans, and included a number of ladies. At the 
close of his speech a movement was made to organize the crowd 
into a Fremont meeting, to be addressed by gentlemen Avho were 
in waiting, after he closed, to make speeches on their side. Edgei-- 
ton claimed that the meeting was his own, and that he would not 
yield his right to the lloor. He submitted the following proposi- 
tions : 

" All those in favor of the election of James Buchanan, will 
signify their choice by a hearty Aye ! '' Every Democrat in the 
crowd, of course, shouted a lusty response. After a slight pause, 
he put the negative in this wise : " All those opposed to the election 
of James Buchanan, will so demonstrate by instantly rising and 



Incidents relathuj to othi'r J*olitiral CovfeffU. 27*'* 

tearing their slilrts ! '' The Re|iultlic,iii |i<>rtioii of that iiu'etlntr was 
ailjoiiriiuil without waitinij l"<>r the I'unuiility of ;i couteHt oii the 
vote, ;iik1 koou the speaker am] "Chairman, iiinl liis DtMUOcratic 
tVieinls, had exclusive possession of the church, and tlie meeting 
was adjourned {fine die. His political opponent alleged that it was 
a clear case of uuurpatiou of power. 



CHAPTER VI 



THE OLD BENCH AXD EAE. 



The first court liekl iiortliwest of the river Oliio. under the forms 
of civil jurisprudeuce, was opeued at Campus Martins, (Marietta.) 
September lid, 1788. 

It will be remembered that on the preceding Ttli of April. Gen- 
eral Rufus Putnam, with forty-seven men, had landed and com- 
menced the second setttlement in what is now the State of Ohio, 
(leneral Harmar, with his regulars, occupied Fort Harmar. Gover- 
nor St. Clair, and also (Jeuei'al Samuel H. Parsons, and General 
James M. Yarnum, Judges of the Supreme Court, arrived in July, 
1788. The Governor and Judges, constituting the government, 
had been employed from their arrival in examining and adopting 
Buch of the statutes of the States as, in their opinion, would be 
adapted to the situation of this new colony. The government had 
made appointments of civil officers for the administration of justice, 
and to carry into effect the laws adopted. Some idea may be 
obtained of the character of the early settlers of Ohio, by 
describing the order with which this important event — the estab- 
lishment of civil authority and the laws — was conducted. From a 
manuscript, written by an eye witness, the substance of the follow- 
ing is obtained. The procession was formed at the point, (where 
most of the settlers resided,) in the following order : I , The High 
Sheriff, with his drawn sword; '1, the citizens; o, the officers of the 
garrison at Fort Plarmar ; 4, members of the bar; .5, the Supreme 
Judges ; 6, the Governor and clergy ; 7, the newly appointed 
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Generals Rufus Putnam, 
and Benjamin Tupper. 

They marched up a path that had been cut and cleared through 
the forest to Campus Martins Hall, [stockade,] when the whole 
countermarched, and the Judges Putnam and Tupper took their 



Tlif Ifiirifoiidl 'fiiiliHaij/. 2Y5 

seats. 'I'Ih' cltTi^yinaii. IJcv. Dr. Culltr, tlini invokeil lln- ilivine 
lih-ssiiiiLj. 'I'Ih' Slu'ritr. ("oIoih-I KluMM'/.rr S|in):il, (oiu; of ii:itur«*"s 
iioblt's.) |irocl:iiiiie(l witli :i solemn "() yes. O yes, yes," thai a 
('oiiil is o|)uneiI for tlie a<ltuinist ration ol" even liauilnl justice — to 
tlie poor as well as tin* rii;li. to llic <fnillv ami iiiiioceut, without 
rHHjM'c't ol jM-rsons: uoin- to l»c punished without atrial l»y a jury 
ol" their peers, ami then in pursuance ol' the laws ami eviilen«'e in 
the cane.'' Althougli this sttene was exhil»ite<l thus early in tin- settle- 
ineut of the State, tew ever etpialed it in the dignity and exalted 
eliaraeter of its principal participators. Many ol them heloiii^ to 
the history ol" our country, in tlie darkest, as well as the most 
splendid perittds of the Ilevolution.iry War. 'i'o witness this 
spectacle, a large body ol Indians was collectetl Irom the most 
powf'riul tribes tlien 0(;cupyine; the almost entire West, 'i'hey 
hail assembled for tlie purpose of making a treaty Whether any 
of them entered the h:dl of justice, or wh.it were tlieir impressions, 
we are not ini'ormed. 

.ICDliES OF THE NOKTHWESTEIIN TJiUKlTOllY AND UI THE SUPREME 
COITRT OF OHIO UXDEIi THE FIRST CONSTITUTION — ISO.'i TO 1852, 

III a work of this uharacter it would seem not to be traveling out 
of tin- record to notice, briefly, the judiciary of the Territorial t-ra, 
and also of the State, from the date of its admission into the Union 
• lown to the period wl»eii tlie first constitution of the State was 
.superceded by the present one. 

Upon the cstublishniciit of the ^HorthwciL Territory in ITi^?, bv 
ordinance of the Continental Congress, provision wad nitwle for the 
government of the same by an executive oHicer and three judges — 
the executive jtower being in the Governor, the Judicial in the three 
judges, and the legislative in both united. 

As population increased new settlements were formed, and the 
territorial government proceeded, from time to time, to lay out uml 
organize other counties, in each of wliich Courts of Common Pleas 
and (leneral (Quarter iSessions of the Peace, vested with civil ami 
criminal jurisdiction, were established. 

The General, or Supreme, Court consisted ol the three judges 
above stated who were apjiointeil by the President, with the advice 
and co^isent of the Senate, each of whom received a salary of eigiit 
hundred dollars from the Treaaury of the United States. It was 



2T6 Tlie Territorial Judiciary. 

the highest judicial tribunal iu the territory, and its jurisdiction 
embraced an empire in area, and was vested with original and 
appellate jurisdiction iu all civil and criminal cases, a.nd on capital 
cases; and on questions of divorce and alimony its jurisdiction was 
exclusive. It was, however, a Common Law Court merely, without 
chancery powers, and was the court of derueir resort. It had power 
to revise and reverse the decisions of all other tribunals iu the ter- 
ritory; yet its own proceedings could not be reversed or set aside, 
even by the Supreme Court of the United States. Tlius were the 
Governor and judges clothed in almost imperial ]wwers. The 
court was held in Cincinnati iu March, at Marietta iu October, at 
Detroit and in the western counties at such time in each year as the 
Governor and judges, in their unfortunate wrangles, undertook' to 
designate. 

As before stated the Governor and judges constituted the legisla- 
tive body, and were vested with power to adopt any law in force iu 
either of the original States, and it; was made their duty to report 
all laws so adopted to the (Jons,-.ress of the Uuited States for their 
approbation. If they were approved by that body, they became the 
laws of the territory until repealed by themselves, or by the general 
assembly, thereafter to be established. This restriction of the ordi- 
nance, however, was disregarded, and they ])roceeded to enact laws 
at their own discretion — which, oi' course, could not l)e aj^proved by 
Congress. 

The propriety of this action was fro<(ueutly contested by the bar 
and a disposition existed to test its validity. No attempt, however, 
was made for that purpose, in conseipience, probably, of the fact 
that Congress had merely withheld their assent without expressing 
an actual dissent, and that as the validity of Die laws would be 
decided by the same men who passed them, the hope of a successful 
result was too weak to justify the undertaking. The consequence 
was that all the laws. professedly adopted and promulgated by that 
quasi Legislature were treated as constitutional by tlie bar and the 
Courts, and were continued in force till they were confirmed, 
repealed or amended and adopted by the Legislature of tlie territory. 

Congress had appointed Arthur St. Clair, Covernor; James M. 
Varnum, Samuel H. I'arsous and John Armstrong, Judges. St. 
Clair was from Pennsylvania, Varniiin from lihode Lshmd, Parsons 
from Connecticut and Armstrong from Pennsylvania. Each of the 
appointees had been a General in the army of the revolution. Arm- 



A ttoruetfs . 1 ilmittM iu 1 802. -J 7 7 

a(ron;j declined jicceptinjj the position tendered him. The other 
t\v<» judia'^, with the Governor, accepted. In tlie phicc ol' Arni- 
jtron^', Congress, on Fi'hnuirv 19. 1788, ehosf .John CJeve Synims, 
of New Jt'rst'V, a very jtroniintMit lawyer of tiial State who had been 
a nu'nil)ir of Congress in ^7^<•'^-<». 

Among the Icrrilnrial jndgcs snl)si,'<|Wi'nily appoiiilcd to till vacan- 
cies occasioned hv tU-ath and rcsiguatioii witc Win. IJarton, ol' Penn- 
sylvania; (leorgc Tnrner, of \'irginia: Knfns I'ntnani. one of the 
pioneers and fonnd<-rs of Mari-ita, who had served as a Brigadier 
General <d" .Ma<«:aeluisei Is I roops in the continental service ; .Joseph 
(lillman, a resident of llamihon eoiinly: Retnrn J. Meigs, of Mari- 
etta, (snl)SiM|HentIy (Toveinor of Oliio, Tnited States Senator and 
l*ostmaster General). Governor St. Clair was well fitted for the 
camp, hnt notso well for the cabinet, and his arbitrary rule hastened 
the adoption of measnres which secnreil the jwlmission of Ohio as 
a State nnder the Chillicothe constitntion of the '.MUh of November, 
180v\ and which went into etfect the following spring. 

Arthnr St. Clair sncceeded John Hancock as I*resident of the 
Continental Congress. When the State entered the Union, he had 
nothing to expect at the hands of the peoj)le of the new State, and 
retnrned to Pennsylvania. His resonrces, limited at best, were soon 
exhansteil by jonrneys to Washington to obtain the allowance of 
unsettled claims against the government. His )»ecuniary circnm- 
stances became worse and worse, and he was linally compelled, as a 
means of support, to sell whiskey by the gill and chestnuts by the 
'|Uart to travelers crossing the Allegheny ridge. 

The first attorney admitted under the constitution of 1 80- wa.-. 
Lewis Cass, whose certificate bore date 1803, and whose honored 
name has since become known to all Americans, and occuities a 
iiigh place among the diplonnitie archives of Kur<»pe. Of later 
names may be mentioned Charles Hammond, William Woodbridge, 
since United States Senator from Michigan, Thomas Ewing, Judge 
Francis Dunbary, .Indge Luke Foster, Robert H. Parkman. D. K. 
Kste, Elisha Whittlesey, Robert F. Slaughter, Judge John W. Willey, 
Judge .loJiM W. Campbell, Wm. Creighton, .loseph H. Crane, Jienja- 
min liuggles, .Folm Wood.-, I?i)bert T. I-.ytle, Klutheros Cooke, Alfred 
Kell( V, Slierlotk J. Andrew.^-, Henry Stanberry, Tiiomjws L. llamer, 
Samson .Mason,.Indg<' H.S.Cowen,A. W. Ijoomis, SalnuMi P.Chase, 
Samuel F. N'inton, Simeon Na.sh, Kber Newt^ni, Henry H. Payne, 
Hiram V. VVilsun and Humphrey 11. Leavitt. Among these will 



2*78 Supreme Bench~iS02-lSl2. 



be recognized names distigiiished in the executive, legislative and 
judicial departments of the State and federal governments, as well 
as in the military service. 

The first official commission was issued to Samuel Huntington, 
who was elected J udge of the Supreme Court on the 2d of April, 18()o. 
Governor Tiffin, in his letter to Judge H., enclosing his commission 
as such, refers to it as the very hrst one issued " in the name of and 
by the authority of the State of Ohio."" 

The following is a correct list of tliose who served on the Su- 
preme Bench, under the Jirst Constitutioi], from 1803 to 1852. The 
names are given in the order of their election or appointment : 

Samuel Huntington, Eeturn J. Meigs, William Sprigg, George 
Todd, Daniel Synimes, Thomas Scott, Thomas Morris, William W. 
Irvin, Ethan Allen Brown, Calvin Pease, John McLean, Jessup N. 
Couch, Jacob Burnet, Charles K. Sherman, Peter Hitchcock, ]l]lijah 
Hayward, John M. Goodenow, Reuben Wood, John C. Wright, 
Joshua Collett, Ebenezer Lane, Frederick Grimke, Matthew Birch- 
ard, Nathaniel C. Reed, Edward Avery, Rufus P. Spalding, William 
B. Caldwell, and Rufus P. Ranney. 

Some of these names are also eminent in the civil and military 
history of the country. 

The subjoined list embraces the names of the Judges of the 
Supreme Court under the Constitution of 18.51 : 

William B. Caldwell, Thomas W. Bartley, John A. Corvvin, Allen 
G. Thurman, Rufus P. Ranney, Joseph R. Swan, William Kennon, 
Jacob Brinkerhoff, Ozias Bowen, Josiah Scott, Milton SutJiflt, Wm. 
V. Peck, William Y. Gholson, Charles C. Convers, Horace Wilder, 
William White, Hocking H. Hunter, John Walch, Luther Day, and 
George W. Mcllvaine. 

Having completed a record of the names of those Avho occupied 
places upon the Supreme Beiich during the Territorial pei'iod, and 
under the hrst and existing Constitutions of Ohio, it may here be 
mentioned that the first Circuit Judge who presided after the 
organization of counties in Northwestern Ohio, was George Tod, 
father of the late Governor David Tod, and the second was Ebene- 
zer Lane, who was subsequently elected Supreme Judge. His suc- 
cessor was David IJiggins, whose interesting reminiscences are 
gVibioine-d; 



Hc/miniscences ot 'ftn/yt D. Higgin.s. 270 



Washtn'otox, Uth April, 1872. 
Ml!. Horace S. Knapi' 

l)pnr Sir: — In acconhiiin' with yniii" icjiu-sl. traiismittnl to mt 
tluoiii^h mv fri«Mi(l, (Jentnil ^^ol•l{;u^ I liavf writUn out a few 
iiu-mories oY tln' " Mannur \'iiil<v-"' H iIh'V eiiii Ik- iniule to aid 
yonr objetls. tlicy are funiitjlu'd willi plrdriiiiv. 

I slioiiltl lie i,'la(l M) hear of your itro^frcftS in yonr work and to see 
it when coiupleted. I .«ay " av^,*' lialiitn.illy. for I ean not see to 
read a line nf the above — my mind follows my pen, inslinitividy — 
Init I make < iror.-i, and am eomjiflleil lo ask ai<l to evamine and 
cornel lli.iii. Vonrs truly, 

l>. ill.,.,lN>. 
MKMOKIKS ol' rili; MACMKK VAI-LKY. — liY H. KKiOINS. 

1 was elected by the (!eneral Assembly Judj^e of the Second .Imli- 
oial Circuit of Ohio in l-'ebruary, IsrJO. 

The Circuil lying in the northwest (-orner of the iState, includeil 
about one-tifth part of tlie territory of Ohio. The Indian title to a 
larp;e portion of tlial territory had Iteen recently (vi/., in 182::^) extin- 
iTuished bv a treaty negotiated Ity (Jeiierals Cass and ^feAilliur. and 
was then quite an unsettled wilderness. 

The counties which comi>osed that (ircuiLat the iniie ul my 
appointment were Huron, Kichland, Delaware, Sandusky, Seneca, 
Crawford. Marion, Wooil, Hancock, Henry, Williams, Putnam, 
Paulding and \'an Wert. The countiea of Henry, Paulding and 
\'an Wert, were unorganized, and attached to adjacent counties. 

At the expiration of my term, Ozias Howen was appointed my 
successor. 

You inquire about our voyage in the good pirogue ".Jurispru- 
dence." There were no very noteworthy incidents in the voyage. 
We had been attending Court at Finlay. Our Circuit route from 
that town was lirst to Detiance, and from there to I'errysburg. A 
countryman agreed to take our horses directly through the Black 
Swamp to Perrysburg, and we purchased a ciinoe, amd diking with 
us our saddles, bridles and baggage, i)roposed to descend Hlanch- 
aiiPs Fork anil the Au (llai/.e rivers to Detiance, and then to Perrys- 
burg. Our company consi-sted of Rodolphns Dickinson, J. C. 
Spink. Count Collinberry, my. self and a countryman, whos« name 
I forgt I. The voyage was a dismal oiu' to Deliance, through an 
unsettled wiIdiMMiess of some sixty mile-s. Its loneliness was only 
broken by the intervening Indian s<'ttlement at Ottawa village, 
where ^ve were hailed and cheered lustily by the Tahwa Indiana' 



280 Notes regarding the Boundary Dispute. 

as would be a foreign war-ship iu the port of New York. From 
Defiance Ave descended the Manmee to Perrysburg, where we found 
all well. In descending the Mauniee, we came near running into 
the rajiids, where we slionld probably have been swamjjcd liad we 
not been hailed from the shor*^ and \varne<l of our danger. 

Among the incidents occnrriiig during my -Judicial connectidu 
with the Second (!ircuit, was what is commonly called the Toledo 
war, which was a contest about the noi'thern boundary, dividing th(! 
State of Ohio from Micliigan. I am not apprised that any history 
of this contest has been wi'itreu, and 1 propose to give a succinct 
account of it. 

In the ordinance of cessi(»n, by which tlie State of Virginia ceded 
to the United States all the territory northwest of the Ohio river, 
it was stipulated that not less than three iior more than live new 
States should l)e organized in the ceded territory. 'J'hat there 
should be three new States organized in that portion of the terri- 
tory lying upon the river Ohio, and lying south of a line drawn east 
and west through the southern shore of Lake Michigan. 

In the subsequent organization of these three States, the principle 
was clearly recognized that the expression in the Virginia ordinance, 
"Bounded north by an east and west line drawn through che south- 
ern shore of Lake Michigan,'' was intended, and should be under- 
stood to designate a general location of territory, and not to deline 
specitially a State boundary. Accordingly, Ohio claimed that her 
northern boundary should include all the territory lying no)'th of 
the Maumee river, and bounded by a line drawn eastwardly i'rom 
the aforesaid south shore of Lake Michigan, so as to strike the north 
cape of the Maumee Bay. This line would pass about ten nides 
north of the Maumee river, at Toledo. This boundary would 
include a triangle on the north line of the State, ten miles wide 
at the raouth of the Maumee, and graduated to a point at the north- 
west corner of the State. Ohio generally exercised jurisdiction 
without dispute over this territory until the question of the Wabash 
and Erie Canal location and organizing the State of Michigan was 
agitated, when Michigan set uji claim to extend her boundary south 
to the due east line from the south shore of Lake Michigan. 

This line would cross the Maumee above its mouth and throv,' the 
town of Toledo and the country teu miles i]Ovth iato the new State 
of Michigan. 



Notes re{/iti'din<j tin lUm iiddrii r>lsj)it(<:. L'sl 

The construction of the Virjrinia act of cession cljiimcd liy Ohio 
ha<l l)(.'eii ivi-o«;iii/,t'il from Mif lirst hy Con^MVss ; for on adniittin;,', 
in isiC, ilic Stiiteof Indiana into tlio llnionJuT northern honndarv 
was lixi'd riixtcen miles north of tlie south short- of Lake Miehi;ran. 

And in like manner the Ixmndary of Illinois was lixtd tliirly 
mili.'S north o|" said south shori' of Lake Michis^an, thus scttliri^ hy 
construction the (|uostion of northern hounihiry. 

In the yt-ar 18.'55, tlie county of Lucas was stt off from Wood 
county, includin.i( all the territory north of the Manmee, and the 
Court was rtM|uired to he hoiden at Toh-do on a certain day. This 
excited anew the opposition of the Michigan peoplr. 

Tile Territorial (Jovernor had not entered uiion his otticial term, 
and the duties of his otlicc devolved upon tin- Secretary, a young 
man named Mason, said to have scarcely arrived to years of man- 
hood. Some time before this the Ohio autliorities had sent out a 
party of snrveyors, to locate the nortliern boundary from the north- 
west corner of the State, when Secretarv Mason sent a foro', wlio 
captured most of the party, and they were imprisoned for a long 
tim(! in the jail at Monroe. 

Now, the action of the State, in reipiiring jurisdiction to br exer- 
cised within the territory claimed by Michigan, excited very 
intensely the belligerent proclivities of the youthful e.\-othcio 
fJovernor. He levied a small army, and on Sunday, the day bef(»re 
that set for holding the (Jourt, he invaded the State, and encamped 
with a force of one thousand two hundretl men in the lower i)art 
of the town of Toledo. This ill-advised operation was attended by 
no particularly serious conse(juences ; for the Michiganders found 
no one to oppose them, and of course they were barely tighting the 
wind. 

Tin.' Lucas (Jouniy Court met mi Monday morning early, made a 
record of their session, appointed a "Clerk an<l Sjierilf, jtm fcni, 
and adjourned without (!over:ior .Mason and his forces l)eing aware 
of their meeting. In conse<|uence, the Court exercised their Juris- 
diction without being disturlnd. and the gallant (Jovernor Mason 
m.inhed to Toledo with his one (hoiisand two hundred men. (lour- 
i.->hed his drums and trumpets anti then marched liack again. This 
question Wiis settled upon tlie admission o|' .Michigan into tie 
Union, when Ihe boundary was e.->tablislied by a line running lr<»iM 
the northwest corner «»f the SlaU.- of Ohio easterly to the north 
rape of th»^ Manmee Hay. 



282 Indian Murder Trial at Fremont. 

Upon the extinguishment of the Indian title, there were several 
tribes of Indians who continued to occupy their former homes, and 
retained their title to small reservations of land. Among these 
Indians was the tribe of Senecas, wlio held a reserve of ten miles 
square, on the Sandusky rivei', a few miles above Fremont. The 
political relation between these Indians and tiie United States Gov- 
ernment were peculiar. I'he United States claimed and exercised 
an ultimate sovereignty over all hulian reserves; and they conceded 
complete peisonal independence to the peojde, and complete munici- 
pal jurisdiction to the individual tribes within the bounds of their 
reservations. Questions requiring decision upon this relation were 
frequently occurring iu the course of my judicial experience. 
Among others was a case occurring in the Seneca tribe, of pecu- 
liar interest. 

During the session of the Supreme (Jourt at i-i'remont, in the year 
1822, (I may be mistaken in the year,) some person in Fremont 
(then Lower Sandusky) instituted a complaint before a Justice of 
Peace against the head chief of the Senecas for murder, and he was 
arrested and brought before the Justice, accompanied hy a number 
of the princii)al men (if \w^. tribe The incidents upon which this 
proceeding was founded are very interesting as illustrating the Indian 
life and character. With this head chief (who, among the Americans 
passed by the appellation of Coonstick) I was somewhat acquainted. 
He was a noble specinuin of a man, a fine form, dignified in man- 
ner, and evincing much good sense in conversation and conduct. 
Some two years before this time, in prospect of his tribe removing 
to the west of the Mississipj)!, Coonstick had traveled to the West, 
and had been absent a year and a half in making his explorations. 
The chief had a brother who was a very bad Indian, and during the 
absence of the chief, had made much disturbance among the tribe ; 
and among other crimes, he was charged with intriguing with a 
medicine woman and inducing her to administer drugs to an Indian 
to whom he was inimical, which caused his death. When the chief 
returned home, he held a council of his head men, to try his bad 
brother; and upon full investigation, he was condemned to be 
executed. The performance of that sad act devolved upon the head 
chief — and Coonstick was required to execute his brother. The time 
fixed for the execution was the next morning. Accordingly, on the 
next morning, Coonstick, accompanied by several of his head men, 
went to the shanty where the criminal lived. He was sitting on h 



Tlie old J udiviat Cirouitb: 283 



bench l>ffore his shanty. The party hailed him, and ho approached 
thorn, and wrapping his bhinket over his head, dropped on his knees 
Ijc'lorc thf txocutinif party. Inuncdiately CoMMstick, raisinj,' hi» 
tomahawk, l>urif(l it in the l)rains ol" tho criminal, who instantly 
expired, 'rhesc ract,s iieing prestiited to the .Supreme Court, they 
decided that tho (.•xcoution of thf criminal was an act completely 
within the jurisdiction of the chid, and that (^)onstick was justified 
in the oxccutiou ol a judicial sentence, of which he was tlio proper 
person to curry into ctlcct. 'Phc case wa.« dismissed and Coonstick 
discharojcd. 

At the session of ihe (ieueral Assembly, in l.s;58-o9, an act was 
passed creating the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. This Circuit em- 
braced ten counties; but out of the territory then existing, three 
counties, namely : Deliance, Auglaize, and Fulton, have since been 
erected. The following counties embraced the Circuit as then estab- 
lished, namely :. Lucas, Wood, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, 
\'an Wert, .A lien, Hardin, and Hancock. This territory, at the 
time, formed part of three Circuits — Allen, Putnam, and Van Wert 
belonging to tlir Dayton Circuit, presided ov<r bv Hnn. Wm. I,. 
Helfenstein; Hardin, belonging to the Columbus Circuit, presided 
over l)y Hon. Josei»li K. Swan, and Lucas, Wood, Henry, Williams, 
Paulding, and Allen, belonging to the Marion Circuit, presided over 
by Hon. Ozias Bowen. 

Under the act creating this Circuit, Emery D. Potter was elected 
in February. 18.*H), Presiding Judge of the Circuit, and held the 
ol!ice until the winter of 1844, when he resigned, and took the seat 
in Congress, to which he haul been elected in October, the vear pre- 
ceding. He was succeeded on the bench by lion. .Myron 11. Tilden. 
who continued in office about eighteen months, when he also 
resigned. 

On the Hull of February, liS4.3, the Sixteenlii -ludicial Circuit, 
embracing the counties of Shelby, Mercer, Allen, Hardin, Jlanctick, 
I'utnam, Paulding, Van Wert, and Williams, was erectx^-d, and Pal- 
rick (i. (loode, of Sidney, elected Presiding Judge. A law <»f the 10th 
ot" .March, 184."), attached the then newly erected count v (»f Oel'aiice 
to tins ( 'irciiit. 

'IMie same legislative se.-^sioji reorganizeil the riiirteeiiih Jndi( i.il 
Circuit. an<l niade it consist of the counties of Henry, Wood, Lucjis, 
Ottawa, Sandiisky, Huron, and Krie, and elected a<j i 'residing Judge, 
.Khenezier B. Saddler, of Sandusky Citv, 



284 Common Pleas Judges — ISSl-lSYS. 

Tho several Judges who served in sub-divisions, embracing other 
counties in tlie Valley, are here appended : 

COM-MOK PLEAS JUDGES UXIiER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1851. 

In District No. ?>, snb-di vision 1, composed of tlie counties of 
Shelby, Auglaize, Allen, Hardin, Ijogan, Union, and Madison, Benj- 
F. Metcall'was elected in Octobei', 1S51, and William Lawrence in 
18.^6. This district and sub-division was changed l)y a legislative 
act so as to embrace only (he counties of Logan, Union, Hardin, 
Marion, aiul Shelby, and Judge Lawrence was re-elected in 1861, 
and resigned in 1804, (having been chosen to a seat in Congress,) 
and Jacob S. Conklin was appointed his successor, in October, 1864. 
At the election of the year following, Judge Conklin v/as elected to 
till the unexpired term of Judge Lawrence, and re-elected in 1866 
for the full term. An act of the Legislature passed in 1868, trans- 
ferred the county of Marion to another sub-division, ajid to the sub- 
division so changed, Philander B. Cole was elected in October, 1871. 

In District No. 8, sub division 2, composed originally of the 
counties of Mercer, Van Wert, Putnam Paulding, Defiance, Wil-. 
liams, Henry, and I'^ulton, .loliu M. Palmer was elected in October, 
18.51, and Alexander S, I^atty in October, 1856. The sub-division 
was changed by an act passed Ajiril 8th, 1858, and at the October 
election of that year, Benjamin l'\ Metcalf was elected an additional 
Judge for the sub-division composed of the counties of Auglaize, 
Allen, Mercer, Van Wert, and Putnam. -Judge Metcalf was elected 
in October, 1863, aud died in February, 1865. 0. W. Kose was 
appointed March 6th, 1865, to till, temporarily, the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the death of Judge Metcalf. James Mackenzi(;, at the 
October election of 1865, was chosen to till the remainder of the 
unexpired term of Judge Metcalf, and in 1868, was re-elected. In 
March, 1869, an additional Judge was authorized in this sub-divi- 
sion, and Edwin M. Pheli)S was elected April 17th, 1869, 

\\\ District 4, sub-division 1, composed of the counties of Lucas, 
Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, and Huron, Lucius B. Otis was elected in 
1851. An additional Judge being authorized by law, John Fitch, 
in 1854, was elected, and re-elected in 1859, and again in 1864. S. 
E. Taylor was elected in J 856, and re-elected in 1861. Samuel T. 
AVorccster was elected in 1858, and resigned, and in 1861, John L. 
(rreen was elected to lill the vacancy. Walter E. Stone was elected 
in 1866, and re-elected in 1871; and, (an ac^ditiooal Judge being 




WAJ.yr\Ayi 




Cowmoii Fkos '/ft.</(/€S—lSi'A-lSl2. 285 

aiitlinri/.i'd,) CliHilis K. r.iiiifwcll was clt'cttMl in ISC.O. At the 
.^ame «'|i'(liiiii. William A. ('i>lliii.s \v:i>; also clfctt'd as the .siicce.s- 
sor to .Imlj/c Kitcli. An ad |ia>-iM| Maicli KMJi, 1S7I, antlioriziiig 
an additional .hid*,'*', .loslnia H. StMn-v was ch-ptcd. 

In tlif Hub-division ronipo.siMl ot' tin- oownlirs ol' Wood. Sfiu'ca, 
Hancock. Wyandot, and Crawford, Lawrcnci- W. Hall was (dt-rtfil 
in lH:)l,!ind M. ('. Whitely in JsriO, and re-.-lected in IHCJ, in tin- 
snl)-divi.sion tlicn consistini,' ol" the connti' s of Wood, Hancock, and 
Putnam. (Jeorge E. Scney, under an act passed A]>ril stli, 1S.'»G, 
was elected an additional Judge for the first mentioned .siilt-division, 
in Octoher, 185(5; Chester R. Mott, December 12th, iMCti; danic.s 
Pillars. April 18th, ISOS, and Abner >r. Jackson, in October, 18?1. 

In the subdivis.on composed of the counties of Paulding. Defi- 
ance, Williams, Fulton, Henry, and Wood, Alexander S. Latty was 
'dented in iSoO. le-elected in 1 SGI, and again in IPOC. Under the 
act of 186^. the county of Wood was transferred to another sub- 
division, anil Judge Latty, in IsTl. was again elected to the sul)- 
division composed of rlie couiitio of l^nulding. Defiance, W illiams 
Fulton, and lli-iirv. 

1 iiK oi.i> i; \K .\ii:m \:i:n<. 

The ettbrt is u<jw made to present llie names and dates of eoni- 
mencement ot professional business, of the early members of the 
I^ucas county bar, and they are niven. as near as possible to olitain 
them, in chronoloLjical order. 

Emery D. Potter, whose Judicial service has already been men- 
tioned was the first who opened a law office in Toledo. He is the last 
of his early j)rofe8sional cotempi>raries, and is yet a citizen of Tole«lo. 
in full possession of his intellectual and physical powers, liut only 
practices law when it is impossible to avoid it. His liome, and an 
occasional indulgence in the sports ot the forests, fields, neighltoring 
bays and river, are his chief source of enjoyment. Having been a 
prominent actor in many of the important issues that divided tlu' 
old political parlies, some extracts from llie February (is.jO) num- 
ber of the Pcniiniiitir Ht'i'trir are a|>pen<led. which will atlbrd a 
general view of the cstiinato place<l by the leading organ ot' his 
party upon his services and position liy a gi-neration now passed 
away ; 

" Few men have risen U) eminence and distinction in our Repub- 
lic, whose lives more faithfully portray the pronenoss ol all things 



286 Early Mem hers of the Bar, 



in our great West, to press on rapidly in the sate line of progress, 
than does that of Emery D, Potter, who represents the Fifth Dis- 
trict of Ohio, in the Thirty-first Congress of the United States. 
Tie was born in Providence county, Rhode Island, the son of Ahra- 
haxn Potter, a farmer in limited circumstances, of that State, which 
has furnished so many eminent statesmen, lawyers and mercliants, to 
aid the giant strides of our country to its present condition. At two 
years of age, Mr. P. was taken by his parents to Otsego county, 
New York, then well nigh a wilderness; and there he remained 
until after having completed his academi(;al education ; and being 
piejjared to entei* college, circumstances interfered which compelled 
liim to commence the study of the law without achieving collegiate 
honoi's. He was entered in the office of Hon. .Tno. A. Dix and Abner 
r'ook, Jr., at Cooperstown, wicli whom he diligently pursued his 
studies until he was admitted to pi-actice in the Supreme Coiu-t of 
the State ; after which he pursued his profession at that point for 
1 wo years, with much success for one of his age and experience. 
Kinding that field already occupied by men of more mature age and 
well established reputations, he soon came to the conclusion that 
the region was " too old" to afford him the opportunity for Avhich 
he longed. So, in the fall of 1<SM5, he emigrated to Toledo, in Lucas 
county. Ohio, his present residence, where he immediately re-com- 
nujuced the |>ractice of the law, and soon rose to distinction, earn- 
ing a high reputation as a forensic orator, and ibr the extent and 
soundness of his legal attainments. Plis success at the bar having 
indicated him as the proper person on whom to bestow the office 
of Presiding Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, he was 
accordingly^ elected, without solicitation, to that post of responsi- 
bility and honor, in February, 1880. The region embraced in his 
Circuit (then composing ten large counties, from the territory of 
which several have since been erected) was the last settled part of 
the State — the northwest — an eighth of the whole vast territory 
of Ohio. In the discharge of the duties of this office, he was com- 
pelled for five years to travel these counties on horse-back, swim- 
ming creeks when the waters Avere high, and at times laying out in 
the woods, when that might be necessary to enable him to meet 
his official engagements. Indeed, as in all new countries, the 
history of his Judicial career was marked with hair-breadth es- 
capes from perils which, though lightly regarded in the Western 
country, would not be encountered by professional gentlemen of 
older communities, for many times the meagre compensation usually 
accorded to Judges in the great Northwest. In the discharge of 
these duties, Mr. P., of course, became extensively acquainted with 
the people of the Circuit, upon whose regard he so won, that in the 
fall of 184y, he was nominated and elected to Congress by a hand- 
some majority; the District having been previously represented by 
a Whig, which party had always been victorious there, by from five 
to six hundred maioritv. On takino- his seat in Congress, though 



A<i?7v Meinherx of thr Har. 287 



'l«'cliiiiii'4 t<» iiKikt? It'K!^ spcerlifs <il' a |i:iily rhfinicter, his cxci'lliMJt 
sons*.', (juickiu'ss ol' :i|i|)r»'li(.'iisi«>n, <ioi»(l ifinjuT, and <;»'iK'nil know 
leilgf <>r all tin' grcuL issues between the parlies at. that era, soun 
eauHed him to he regar«letl as nm* of the leaders ol" the Democracy 
upon the floor, oil all delicate ami dit}i«Mdl cx-casions. . . The 

records of that Congress are replete with the history oj" the etlei-t 
ol liis niind and cliuracler upon his lellow lueiuhers. iMr. Potter 
was placed upon the select committee to consider and report upon 
the best method lor carrying out thw will ol the phihint hropi?'! . 
.Smithson, and alter a thorough e\auiinalion of tin- suhji-et, he 
joined Mr. Adams in his lamous report, which in fact formed the 
loun<hilion of all the suhse<pjent legislation of Congiess, ena<-led 
with the view to render this nohh' charity available lor the pinpose 
designed— to diffuse knowledge amon<^ men." 

In the fall of l>^n, Judge I'otter, without solicitation, and against 
his wishes, was eleded to a seat in tlie Ohio House of l{epresent:i 
lives. The .session to which he was chosen, was regarded as one 
of unusual importance, and it appeared to be the settled aim <»f 
both parties, throughout the State, to secure the nomination and 
election of their ablest men. It was under the dictation of this 
l»olicy that Judge Potter was called by his party to occu])y a seat 
iu the liepresentatives Mall of the C^eneral Assembly. The AVr/V/r 
enumerates and analyzes the character of the leading measures of 
the session, and justly observes that Judge Potter, by common 
consent, was placed in the lead as the champion of the Dem«>- 
cratic side of the House, and maintained this position very satisfa*-- 
torily to his political friends, though not so satisfactorily to his 
opponents. The Iu rii'ir also regards it worthy of note that, from 
his entrance into tlio Legislature to the close of his service therein, 
not a single (piestion was put to the Hous(\ u|)on which he faile<l to 
vote. It is ijuestionable whether the same may be said of any other 
gentleman who has ever served as a Legislator in any State of the 
I'nion. The Hrrlrir thus closes its sketch : 

"In the following August (IMS), without the slightest solicita- 
tion on his part, he was a second linx! nominate<l for Congress. 
Indeed, he was a member ol the County Convention to select dele- 
gates to that body, and exerted himself therein to secure the selec- 
tion of gentli'men known t(» favor the nomination of another. 

•'On taking his seat in Washington, in the contest over the selec- 
tion of a presiding othcer for the 'I'hirty-first (Congress, he received 
seventy-eight votes for that distinguished position in many of the 
sixty-two trials occurring before a choice was effected, though he 
had previously served but a single term in the House, and that 



288 Early Memhers of tlif- Bm 



many years before. In the selection of tlie committees, he was 
honored with tlie ( ihairmanship of the Committee on Post Offices 
and Post Roads, one of the most important committees of the 
House. His choice for the position, under the circumstances, con- 
veyed a high compliment to his talents and attainments, and a 
grateful acknowledgment of the value of his previous public 
services.'' 

Hon. Hezekiah D. Mason was in Toledo during 18r>5 : but, 
although a well educated lawyer, he did not engage in practice. 
Caleb F. Abbott opened an office in the winter of 18.^5-36; and 
Richard Cook, during the spring of the same year, commenced 
practice, forming a law partnership, during the summer, with Geo. 
B. Way — the last named gentleman having been here previously, 
but not engaged in his profession. 

During a portion of the year 1836, Tappan Wright, son of the 
late John C. Wright, of Cincinnati, was engaged in the practice 
of law^ in Toledo. It was also during this year that John Fitch 
commenced his professional career. 

In 1837, Daniel O. Morton, John R. Osborn, and Myron H. 
Tilden — the two last named from Norwalk — opened law offices. 
Mr. Morton, under the administration of President Pierce, was 
appointed United States Attorney for the District of Ohio. He 
was also one of the conmiissioners who formed the first code of 
civil })rocedurc under the present constitution of the State. He 
established a high reputation as a lawyer, and died in 1862. Wm. 
Baker (having formerly practiced in Norwalk) removed to Toledo 
in IMovember, 1844, and opened an office, and in 1847, the law firm 
of Tilden & Baker Avas formed. Judge Tilden removed to Cincin- 
nati, in 1850, and is in active practice in that city. 

On the first Monday of December, 1 837, Mr. Osborn was elected 
Clerk of the Ohio Senate, and with Cooper K. Watson, of Tiffin, 
as assistant, discharged the whole duties of the office, with the 
exception of a slight additional force employed during the last 
three weeks of the session. In 1839, he returned to Norwalk, and 
remained until 1853 — representing his district in the State Senate 
at the session commencing December, 1844. In 18r)o, he was 
invited to take charge of the law department of the then projected 
Wabash Railroad, which position he yet holds, his supervision being 
limited to the Ohio interests of the company. 

Among the early lawyers who were students in Toledo, and ad- 
mitted to the bar, were Thomas Dunlap, Daniel McBain, Charles 



Tl, Old Bench and Bar. 281^ 



M. Dorr, Cliarlcs W. Hill, Hiram WalbriJge, .Tames M. Whitney, 
Charles E. Perigo, Lewis McL. Lambert, Jerome Myers, and Wm. 
il. Hall. Some of these attained distinction in law practice, and 
one — General Hiram Walbridcje — removed to New York City, 
was elected to Congress, and became prominent as a ]Jolitician. 

At Maumee City, at an early period, were David Higf;ins, John 
M. ^fay. Nathan Rathburn, Henry C. Stowell, Horace F. Waite, 
Samuel M. Young. Henry S. Commager, Morrison K. Waite. and 
Daniel F. Cook. Mr. Commager was successful as a lawyer — was 
conspicuous as a politician, and possessed the confidence of his 
Iriends, and the respect of his op))oncnts — and during the late civil 
conflict, made an honorable record, and at the close of the war held 
the rank of Brigadier General. He died at Galveston. Texas, 
August 14th. ISGT. Mr. Waite in November, 1871. received the 
apjinintment as Counsellor for the American members of the Anglo- 
American Commission, which met at Geneva — a distinction which 
conferred as much honor upon the administration that made the 
apj)ointment. as it did upon himself 

In the list of lawyers of the olden time, who, occasionally, as 
they were retained in cases, and others regularly attending the 
terms, were Joseph R. Swan, Edward Wade, Orris Parrish, Joshua 
II. Giddings, Noah H. Swayne, Benjamin F. Wade, Chas. Sweetser, 
:»ud others of equal note. ^ In looking over the Lucas County Court 
Docket for the terms held in IS.'.G and 1837, one finds the interests 
(t^ parties in the hands of Giddings iS: Osborn. May & Young, J. Stet- 
son, Glasgow &, Way, Wheeler &, Morton, Stone &> Brown, Swayne t!v: 
Brown, Reed & Hosmer, (Perrysburg lawyers — Henry Reed and 
ITe/ekiah L. Hosmer,) Perkins iS: ()s])orn. C. L. Boalt, F. E. Evans, 
Purdy & Morton, G. W. .Stanley, Samuel B. Campbell, E. Allen, 
Wing & Noble; and in 1880, E. S. Hamlin, W. P. Berry, Hitch- 
cook tfe Wilder, Evans Darling &, Lowns])ury, and John Wilson. 
And coming down to ISJI, which is about the date at which this 
sketch should be terminated, we discover in charge of cases, the 
names of Stowell &, Commager. J. R. Ilojikins, B. W. Rouse, Allen 
& Stetson, McKay Scott, A. &, J. M. Coninbcrry, W. M. Scott, and 
Lathrop, Morton &, Whitney. 

At Perrysburg, the county seat of Wood county, which then 

embraced more than the present area of both Wood and Lucas 

counties, appeared John ('. .Spink, and Henry ]>ennett — the fermer 

in IS^l, the latter in IS.j;}, Thomas W. I*owell, who had been ^ 

10 



290 The Old Bench and Bar. 

practicing lawyer, and resident of Perry sburg since 1820, re- 
moved to Delaware, where be now resides. Henry Bennett 
formed a law partnership with Samuel B. Campbell, the firm 
name being Bennett & Campbell, In 1843, after ten years' resi- 
dence in Perrysburg, Mr. Bennett removed to Toledo, and at 
once became one of the law firm of Tilden, Hill & Bennett. 
After the election of Mr, Tilden as Judge of the Thirteenth Judi- 
cial Circuit, Messrs. Hill & Bennett continued their association 
until 1850. During that year they separated in business, and Mr. 
Bennett formed a law partnership with A. C. Harris, a brother-in- 
law of ex-President Fillmore. The firm was dissolved in 1852, by 
reason of Mr. Bennett's declining health, which made it necessary 
that he abandon his profession ; and since that time, with physical 
powers well recuperated, he devotes his time to the insurance busi- 
ness. General Hill continues in practice with his son, Avery S. 
Hill. Henry S. Commager had removed trom Maumee City to 
Toledo, and spent several years in practice with R. C. Lemmon 

Thus it has been attempted to sketcli, with as slight refer- 
ence to the fair I'ecord of the living who toatinue in active prac- 
tice, as it was possible to do, the old l>tach and bar of the 
lower portion of the Maumee Valley. Aithongli conspicuous in 
the struggles of a generation that may be regarded as past, the 
remnant of the old band evince no signs of failing energies. Some 
one in the future will take up the record where this leaves it at a 
distance of about thirty years, and will bring it forward to later times. 
None of the old class occupy places on the bench ; but the survi- 
vors, who continue in the profession, maintain a front rank among 
their brethren throughout the State, and have substantial reason 
for self-gratulation in contemplating the honorable record they are 
making up. 

In numbers, the veteran lawyer corps now constitute only a small 
body beside their more recently-established competitors for forensic 
renown; but they are generally well-preserved, albeit some of 
them, retaining an inflexible hold upon those habits of severe toil 
which were formed in earlier days, Avhen, perhaps, very close appli- 
cation was a necessity, (but a necessity no longer with most of 
them,) are gradually receiving upon their features and frames the 
impress which nature stamps upon those who are so determined in 
their preference to '• wear out, rather than to rust out," [For a Ust 



Reminiscences of Mr. Poirell. 201 

of Pome of tho lawyers in the Maumee Valley engaged in practice 
in 1872, see appendix marked "A."] 



Delaware, Ohio, November HOth, 1H7I. 
II. S. Knaim', Esq. : 

Dear Sir : — Your kind letter of the 9th instant, was duly received 
while I was quite busily engaged, and was therelbri- compelled for 
the present to delay answering, but did not intend so long a delay, 
which I hoj)e you will excuse. 

I first went to Wood county and attended its second court in the 
fall of 1820; and soon afterward settled at Perrysburg, where I 
remained until December, 1830. 

In 18t;8, at the request of W. V. Way, Esq., of Perrysburg, I 
wrote an account of my recollections of the ^laumoc Valley, which 
was published in the Perrysl)urg Weeklv Journal, March 13th and 
•20th, 1868: and reprinted in the Defiance Democrat, May 2d, 18G8. 
In both of these there were some typographical errors; but of the 
two, the Detiance paper was the freest of them. Unaccountably 
they got tiie name of Mr. Small instead of Levell, as our landlord 
at Defiance. I hope you may be able to procure a copy of the Defi- 
ance paper ; and if I can give you any further information, I shall 
be 1 appy to do so. 

I cannot now recollect whether our first court at Defiance was in 
the summer of 1824 or 1825, but believe it was the latter. At that 
time, besides Judge Lane, the presiding Judge of the court, that 
court was attended by Eleutheros Cooke, of Sandusky City; Kodolphus 
Diekinsun, of Lower Sandusky, (now Prrniont); Mr. Gage and 
myself, from Perrysburg: Charles and William G. Lwing, from 
Fort Wayne, and one or two from Dayton. I ca!i not recollect all. 
There must have Ix-en eight or nine lawyers attending that court. 

J. C. Spink came to Perrysburg a few weeks ))efore I left there, 
and took my ottice. Count Coninl)erry :ittended the court at 
Perrysburg for a few years before I left there, but did not remove 
there until a fi'W years afterward; and subsequently he settled at 
Findlay. Yours truly, 

Tiios. \V. Powell. 



IlEMIXISCENCES OF HON. THOMAS W, POWELL. 

Delaware. Ohio. Februarv !>tli, 1^07. 
W. V. Wat. Esq. : 

My//- Sir : — I am in the receipt of your very kind letter of invi- 
tation, on the behalf of the Pioneer Society of the Maumee Valley, 
to 1)6 with you at your meeting on tho 2"Jd instant ; and if not able 
to attend, to communicate. I tinil it impossible to l>e there person- 
*llj', 88 I should be extremely happy to he with you: I have, there 



292 Reminiscences of Mr. Powell. 



fore, prepared the following hasty sketch of my reminiscence of the 
Maumee Valley while I resided there, which you will please present 
to the Society with my best respects : 

I have a cherished memory of the Maumee Valley, and fondly 
retain a warm recollection of the inhabitants I found and left there ; 
who, from their general intelligence, and high moral character, were 
fully entitled to it. No better or more deserving people were ever 
found in a new country. 

At the close of the war of 1812, the attention of the public was 
more directed towards the Maumee, on the account of its promis- 
ing future importance, in the estimation of all intelligent persons, 
than to any other new country. That war had expelled all the 
former inhabitants and rendered the country entirely desolate. But 
on return of peace, settlers began to repossess the valley, and form 
settlements at prominent points— as the Foot of the Rapids, Roche 
de Boeuf, Prairie Demasque and Defiance. 

I came from Utica, in New York, in 1S19, to Ohio, and while 
waiting for my admission to the bar, I spent my quarantine, (as it is 
called,) of about eighteen months, at Canton, in Stark county. 
While there, I looked around for some prominent point that put 
forth promise of natural advantages, where I could settle and grow 
up with the place, as it was then frequently 'x pressed to me. 

I then, in my imagination, would draw a line from the Foot of 
the Eapids to the north%vest, and another to ihe southwest; and to 
that point I concluded the commerce of the country, to the West 
at some future time, (not far distant,) must converge. I Avas ad- 
mitted at the Supreme Court at Wooster, in September, 1S20, and 
went immediately to the Maumee. On seeing the beauty of the 
valley, with my exalted confidence in its future destiny, I became an 
enthusiast in hope, and determined to make it my future home. 
From Wooster I traveled on horse-back, by ihe way of the place 
where Ashland now is, New Haven, Lower Sandusky, to the Mau- 
mee. The countr}^ through which I passed was very new — with 
here and there a settlement. From Lower Sandusky to the Mau- 
mee, it was an entire wilderness, and known as the Black Swamp, 
through which there was no road except a mere trail through the 
woods. I arrived at Perrysburg in the afternoon of a line day, 
about the middle of September, and upon arriving o]i the high bank 
near Fort Meigs, I was most favorably struck witli the magniiiceut 
scenery and beauty of the valley. Along the rapids, the intervals 
from hill to hill were originally prairies, and even these Avere mostly 
covered Avith the finest fields of corn. At that time there was not 
a single house upon any of the in-lots in Perrysburg — there Avere a 
few on some of the out-lots. The Front street hud just been cut 
open and cleared from the Avood and brush. I crossed the river at a 
ford at the foot of the rapids, and came to the town of Maumee, 
where I made my home for some time, at a public house kept by 
Mr. Peter G. Oliver, g, brother of Major Willi^-m Oliyer, a gallwt 



Pei'i-ysbarfj and Maniuee in 1820. 293 



young oflRcor who had distingnished liiniself by important and 
inoritorious services rendered under (Jeiieral Ifarrison at the siege 
of Fort Meig.--. 

Upon arriving at Mauniee, I fijund there a considerable village, 
witli two g(H)d taveiTis, two or tliree stores, anil other objects and 
appliances necessary for the convenience, comfort and business of 
such a place. But above all, it was gratifying to me to find there 
quite :i number of intelligent and well informed people, and the 
society of the place far above that usually found in a new country. 
Among the men that I then found there, who, on account of their 
character and intelligence, became my friends, were Dr. H. Conant, 
Almon (Jibhs. Esq., General John E. Hunt, Judge Robert A. For- 
sythe, Judge Aml)rose Kice, John llollister, and two or three o( his 
brothers. These and others constituted a society there, which 
would be acceptable any where, and who, on account of their 
intelligence and enterprise, would be prominent citizens in any 
place. Settled along the river in various i)laced from Swan Creek 
to Ivoche de Botuf, were found persons who were entitled to our 
notice, amonirst whom were the Keelers, the Hubbells, the Hulls, 
the Spaffords, the Wilkinsons, the Prays, the Pratts, and the Near- 
ings — all distinguished for their intelligence, enterprise and indus- 
try. Finding there was so acceptable society, and commendable 
jxipulation, and being charmed with, the beauty of the valley, I soon 
dt lerniinrd to niake it my future home, and to which determination 
I adhered againsc every obstacle for ten years. 

Previous to the war of 181 ::i, the foot of the rapids Jiad been set- 
tled by a considerable ])oi)ulation engaged in agriculture and in the 
extensive Indian trade, that the natural advantages of the place 
afforded, lint soon after the commencement of the war, upon the 
defeat of Hull at Detroit, these first settlers of the Maiunee, were 
all driven off by Ihi' British and Indians — tiieir homes burnt down, 
and their habitations rendered desolate. Suon after the restoration 
of peace, inhabitants began to return, and .settlements were funned. 
In 1>?17, the General (Government sold the lanils in lots within the 
"twelve miles square at the foot of the rapids,'' and then permanent 
settlements were formed, and the im[)rovenients made that I found 
when I arrived there. The interesting events connected with the 
earliest known history of the valley — the taking )>o8session of the 
country by the British, at the close of the Kevolutionary War, and 
the building of their fort just below the foot of the rajiids — at what 
subsequently became Fort Miami — the events of 1704, and the 
battle of General Wayne's campaign — the defence of the country 
by General Harrison, the defeat and massacre of Colonel Dudley's 
men, and the siege of Fort Meigs, -.is well as the treaty held by Gen- 
erals Cass and McArlhur in 1*^17, are all events highly interesting 
in the history of the country, and render the valley of the Maumee 
the cla.^sic ground of Northern Ohio. But all these transpired 
t>efore I came to the country, and I do not further intend to 



29^ The Indian Trade ^ (&g. 



allude to them. The county of Wood was organized in the spring 
of 1820, and at that time included the whole valley. In May of 
that year, the first Court of Common Pleas was held at the town 
of Maumee, by Hon. George Tod, of Trumbull county, whose cir- 
cuit as presiding judge, included all Northern Ohio, (the Eeserve 
and the New Purchase,) and who continued to hold courts there for 
several years. The Clerk was Thomas K. McKnight, Esq., from 
Wooster, Ohio, and who was continued in that office until his death 
in 1832. The Prosecuting Attorney was J. C. McCurdy, Esq., a 
young lawyer who was transiently there, and who I never saw. 

In October, soon after my arrival at Maumee, was held the second 
term of the Court of Common Pleas, at which Judge Tod presided, 
Mr. McKnight was the Clerk, and I was appointed the Prosecuting 
Attorney — an office I held during the whole ten years I resided 
there. There were at this term several cases tried, both civil and 
criminal, of considerable interest and some importance. The Court 
was then attended by several able lawyers from various parts of the 
country. Eleutherus Cooke, Esq., from Huron county — then a bril- 
liant and eloquent lawyer; Ebenezer Lane, an able lawyer and fin- 
ished scholar — a graduate of Harvard ; W. Dogherty, Esq., of Colum- 
bus; Jonathan Edwards Chaplin, Esq., of Urban a, a good lawyer 
and scholar, and on his mother's side a descendant of Jonathan 
Edwards, and a near relative of the celebrated Aaron Burr; Charles 
I. Lanman, from Michigan, a brilliant and accomplished gentleman 
whose father was then Senator in Congress from Connecticut. These 
distinguished men, as well as a few others, gave the court an interest 
and standing which the court of Wood county always retained. 
When that court was over, the whole of us — bench and bar — made 
an excursion up the rapids to Roche de Boeuf, and we were all de- 
lighted with the beauty of the country and its future promise. 

Upon the close of the war of 1812, the foot of the rapids became 
an important point in the commercial business of the country. In 
the spring of the succeeding year, large quantities of the produce 
of the western part of Ohio and Northeastern Indiana was brought 
down the river in flat-boats and transferred to the shipping 
of the lake. The Indian trade was large. The quantity 
of furs and peltries collected here by the Indian traders, and 
that of the sugar made by the Indians from the sap of the sugar 
maple, and put up by them in cases made of bark, each weighing 
sixty or eighty pounds, and called " mococks" — these and other like 
objects of ti'ade and commerce, made up a considerable business. 
The fisheries of the river also constituted a large item in the then 
business of the place. The quantity of corn even thtyi raised on 
the Maumee, was very large, and was exported in large quantities to 
Detroit and other parts of the upper lakes — this was so much the 
case that it was called " coming to Egypt for corn." These objects, 
and other minor subjects of commerce and traffic, rendered the 
business of the place far larger than that which would be indicated 



A Cum of Burglary and Grand Larceny. 295 



by the population of the placi.', aiul the uinoiiiit of tlie lake shipping 
that came up there tu meet this commercial demand was quitt' con- 
tiiderahle. The connection of transient persons with these transac- 
tions in the- various dejiartnients, made the business of the place 
assuiUL' a variety and character far suj)erior to what the ])ermanent 
inhabitants would attord or require. This gave to the law business 
of the place a variety and interest it could not otherwise attain. It 
induci'd a large number of lawyers to attend the courts there, dur- 
ing the time I made the valley my residence. Among those who 
thus attended in subsequent years, (besides those whom I have 
already mentioned.) were Judge Parish, of Columbus ; G. W. Ewing, 
of P'ort Wayne ; Lanman, Lawrence, and Noble, of the River Raisin; 
Dickinson and Latimort-, from Sandusky and Huron counties, and 
occasionally others, which rendered the bar of Wood county, at 
court times, large, able and interesting. 

Soon after I canie to the Maumee, a lawyer by the name of Roby 
came and settled there with his family. He commenced his practice 
in Albany, New York, and afterwards settled for a while in South- 
ern Ohio. He attended our courts a few terms, when he took the 
bilious fever of the country and died. About the same time, James 
Lee Gage, Esq., and Cyrus Lee Gage, Esq., two young lawyers, came 
and settled in Maumee. They remained and practiced there some 
years, and then removed to other places. With J. L. Gage, I was 
longer and better acf|uainted. He was a man of talent and intelli- 
gence, but tinctured with considerable eccentricity. He afterwards 
settled at JlcConnellsville, Ohio, where he became distinguished as 
an able lawyer, and a«! the husband of Mrs. Fanny D. Gage, distin- 
guished for some literary productions, for her woman's rights advo- 
cacy, and for ronsiilerable eccentricity. 

During the time 1 was there, the law business of the valley 
furnished the courts of Wood county a number of quite interest- 
ing cases. Among them, also, were a few of the more important 
criminal cases of homicide, burglary and the like, in which a num- 
l)er of the accused were convicted and sent to the penitentiary. 

In the spring of 1826 there transpired at Perrysburg a case of 
more than ordinary interest and excitement. Elijah Huntington, 
Esq., of Perrysburg, had about that time been collecting his money 
with a view to be prepared to purchase some lands on the river that 
were soon to be resold by the United States, and which had become 
forfeited for non-payment by the former purchasers. Huntington 
liad in his house some four hundred dollars, which he kept by him, 
waiting the sale of t.lese lands. Early one morning, Mr. II. came to 
my house greatly excited, with a club in his hands, saying that in 
the night previous some persons had entered his house, broken open 
his drawers, taken his money, and left in the room that club. Mr. 
H. thought himself ruined; for at that time four hundred dollars, 
with a view to the approaching sales, was an imjiortant sum of 
money. Hut who had committed the crime could not be even 



290 A Case of Burglary and Grand Larceny. 



guessed at. It for a while baffled all conjecture, and became quite 
a mystery. A week or two previous, a pocket-book and a small 
amount of money had been missed from tlie house of Chas. O'Neil, 
of Perrysburg, and suspicions after a while began to be placed upon 
one Stockwell and his wife, who had not long before settled there. 
The citizens of Perrysburg became greatly excited upon the subject 
of this robbery ; and for a time it seemed to elude ail endeavors to 
detect tlie perpetrators. Suspicions having been placed upon Stock- 
well and his wife in regard to the O'Neil afiair (though as yet there 
was no evidence against them), public attention was directed im- 
mediately to Stockwell as a person who might be in some way con- 
nected with the robbery of Mr. Huntington. The club that was 
found in Huntington's house, after the burglary, was for a while 
handed around as a curiosity. When tired of its exhibition, Mrs. 
H. threw it upon the i5re for the purpose of making a final disposi- 
tion of it. Just then, as luck would have it. Judge Ambrose Eice, 
an old citizen of Maumee, a remarkably shrewd man and close ob- 
server, came into the house and immediately snatched the club from 
the fire, with the observation that it should be preserved, as it might 
yet be evidence against the perpetrators of the act. The club was a 
hickory stick, considerably reduced at one end by long chips taken 
from it with a knife. Judge Eice thought that possibly the chips 
might be somewhere found and identified with the club, so as to 
implicate some one with the burglary. Strenuous investigations 
were made for some days without any result. At length a number 
of the citizens of Perrysburg determined to make a search of Stock- 
weli's house, and take him and his wife, for a while at least, into 
custody. For this purpose they went in the night time, when they 
would be sure to find them at home, took possession of the house, 
and them into custody, and made diligent search of the house with- 
out finding any evidence against them. Stockwell and wife asserted 
entire ignorance of the whole matter in question. The next morn- 
ing Judge Eice went to the house with the club, and examined to 
see if some of the chips taken from the club could not be found 
there. Ai'ter some diligent search he found some fresh chips scat- 
tered under the floor of the house. These chips upon examination 
would correspond exactly with the marks of the club, so completely 
that there could be no question of their identity. This was a crush- 
ing answer to Stockwell's assertion of his innocence in the matter. 
But as yet no further evidence was discovered against them. But 
becoming alarmed in consequence of the identity of the chips found 
at his house with the club, and finding that his associates had 
played a trick upon him in keeping him ignorant of the amount of 
money that had been taken, and applying the whole of it to their 
own use, he became indignant towards them, and determined to 
disclose the whole. For this purpose he sent for me as the prose- 
cuting attorney, and disclosed lo me the whole transaction as far as 
he knew it. He told me that he and his wife had the O'Neil money. 



4 Case of Burglary and Grand Larceny. 297 



}ind informed me where I could lind it: hut as to the ITuntinj^ton 
money, he knew notliing beyond eight or ten dolhird of it. lie aaid 
that a night or two befon' lluntin^'ton's house was robbed, two men 
by the name of Keiser, old cronies of his in crime, came to his house 
and inijuind of them if there were not some plunder to be had in 
Perrysl)urg. Stockwell informed them that his wife had discovered 
that Mr. Huntington had a quantity of money on hand in his house. 
This they soon formed a resolution to take. 'J'hey kept secreted at 
his house a day or two making observations and j)lanning how to 
take the money. On the night that the money was taken, they 
all three rallied forth and went to Huntington's house, found them all 
asleep, and one of the Keisers made his way into the house and soon 
returned, saying he had got Huntington's jwcket-book, but he feared 
it was a '• wat«r-haul." The club he hatl taken into the house with 
iiini, he had accidentally left there, which gave them some concern, 
and some time debated upon the subject of retiirning for it. They 
did not however, and jiroceeded to Stockwell's house to examine the 
pocket-book and di\ide the spoils. Keiser jiresented the pocket- 
book as all that he had taken. Upon examination it was found that 
it contained only fifteen or twenty dollars, and the Keisers gave 
.Stock\s. 1' eight or ten dollars as his share of it. Stockwell was dis- 
satisfied, and suspected fraud ; and so (juestioned Keiser about it. 
Keiser declared u|)on his " honor" that tliat was all he had taken — 
it was, he said, only a water-haul; and })roposed to Stockwell that 
he might Search him. Stockwell was silenced by the brass and im- 
pudence of the Keisers, who immediately left P<'rrysburg; and no 
one except Stockwell and wife knew anything of their having l)een 
there, or within a hundred miles. 

Now, if the^ club had not been saved by Judge Kice and identi- 
fied with the chips found in StockwelTs house, and was likely to 
throw upon him the guilt of the whole transaction, and the convic- 
tion on his inirt that the Keisers had [>erj)etrated upon him wiiat he 
considered to he a dishon<»rable and knavish trick, in secreting from 
him almost the whole of the spoils they had taken, it is not probable 
that this most wicked transaction could have been ferreted out. 
But the ways of I'rovidence are mysterious and the ways of the 
wicked are iiard, and in the best laid schemes of the criminal. is 
found the train of circumstances that leads to his inevitable detec- 
tion. Stockwell, smarting under the conviction that an infamous 
trick had been played ofi' on him, finding by sad experience that 
there was no ''honor amongst thieves," and finding that the evi- 
dence against him was likely to make him a victim of the knaves 
who had appropriated, by means of a dishonorable trick, the whole 
spoils to their own use, was now ready to make a frank and open 
disclosure of the whole transactions as far as he knew them. He in- 
formed us that the K>i>iTs were to be found in a strip of woods on 
the north cape of Maiimee Hay. A committee of the citizens wan 
immediately dispatclied for them, and within a few days the Keisera 



298 Odd Cases before the Courts. 



were in custody of the committee in IV-rrysburg. They held out 
for some time before they could be induced to disclose where the 
money was. But rifter being put through a pretty severe course of 
discipline, they, in the course of about a week, revealed wliere the 
money was to be found. It was buried at the foot of a tree on the 
north cape of the bay. Two women, the mother of the Keisers, 
and the wife of one of them, who were then at Perrysburg, were to 
show where the money was to be found. These women, Mr. Hunt- 
ington, myself, and a few men to man a boat, went down there to 
receive the money. When we arrived at the cape, we found a most 
desolate place — a mere sand bar with a few trees and shrubbery, 
where we found a miserable log house — the home of the Keisers. The 
women took us to the tree where the money was buried. After a 
little search, it was found ; and principally in paper money, which 
had laid there some ten days, it had become so very damp, that it 
was very near being worthless. Through the means of these various 
proceedings, Mr. Huntington recovered nearly all of his lest money. 
Stockwell and the Keisers remained in jail several months after 
that, waiting their trial. Bat just before court they broke jail and 
made their escape to Canada. 

But in my recollections of the Maumee, I ought not, and cannot 
forget the courts and their doings. While I was there, the Court 
of Common Pleas was organized with a president and three associ- 
ates. The court, as I have already remarked, was, during the whole 
time I was there, presided over by Judges Tod and Lane. There 
Avere frequent changes amongst the associates, and their number 
became quite large. Their names will appear in the history of the 
times, and therefore I will not occupy time in repeating them. 
But I must say for them, that, after seeing Associate Judges in 
many and various parts of the State, I have seen no where a body 
of men, more competent or intelligent than the Associate Judges 
of Wood county. I would be glad to particularize and commend a 
number of them; but that would be invidious. 

Mr. Gage, a few years since, published in the newspaper of Per- 
rysburg, an interesting account of one case as his " first case.'' It 
was an action brought by Gage (under the necessities of circumstances) 
to replevy some nursery trees. But it has been perversely misrepre- 
sented by some of our members of the bar, as a standing joke 
against Mr. Gage, that he had brought the action to leplevy an 
orchard. 

Another case has attained some celebrity in the reports of Judge 
Wright, who never missed an opportunity of perpetrating a joke, 
or publishing an obscenity. The case is that of Laking vs. Gunn. 
Laking had been a merchant at Waterville, and some of his good 
neighbors thought he was a little too gallant, and they wished to 
bring him a little down in his gallantry and his estimation of himself. 
They therefore confederated for that purpose, and procured a girl 
to tell Laking that she had something important to communicate 



A Murder Trial. 2*»9 



to liini. uml would that iiif^bt. UK-i-t liiin iit ;i certuMi place, and 
inform liirii what it was. When poor Lakin^^, as the victim of the 
oonspinicy, had arrived at the ])hice agreed upon, the conspirators 
had a pan el of boys there secreted, who arose around him, firing 
guns, l)lowing horns, etc, creating great noise, and falsely pretend- 
ing that they had caught Laking there in some unlawful act. 
Laking claimc(l that all this was done maliciously, to injure hia 
good name and fame, and ruin him as a merchant. lie was 
anxious to bring a suit, and counseled Judge Parish and myself. 
Upon the urgent solicitations of our client, we agreed to liring the 
suit — Judge Parish saying that if I could draw the declaration, we 
woqld go it. I promised to draw it; though in the further prose- 
cution of the case, Judge P. was unaccountably found on the other 
side of thf case. I drew up the declaration, never dreaming that it 
was afterwards to he put into print. But there it is, and I rejoice 
to Ray that it is a good one. I submit to any lawyer who has intel- 
lect enough to know what a declaration should he, whether it is not 
a triumph. But Judge Wright was determined that thi- case 
should not have a trial upon its merits, and therefore ujjou demurrer 
dismissed the case, by imagining that the <leelaration contained 
much me •'. and a far different ease from what it did. Judge Wright 
was an olu euck of great worldly experience. lie could not keep 
his imagination from surroumling the case with the result that his 
experience would throw into it; and which my want of sucli exj)e- 
rience and nnioctr never permitted me to imagiu'i to be in the ease, 
and what certainly was not in the declaration. The case served 
Judge Wright's purpose — to show olV bis wit and perpetrate a joke 
at the expense ol the law ; but certainly was violating every prin- 
ciple of law in relation to pleading ami tlemurrer. 

The most interesting case that transpired in the valley while I 
was there, was tlie trial anil conviction of Porter for murder. Isaac 
Kicbard.-on, the man wliom Porter bad killed, had been lor many 
years a citi/cn of the valley. About the year 1^17. he an<l a Mr. 
Thompson had purchased a lot of land containing Roche de Boeuf. 
They had commenced to build mills at th<ise ra}>ids, and progressed 
at one time, so far as to get the mills in o{)eration. iiut contintied 
quarrels and ditbculties existed between these two men, so that the 
one of them would one day tear down and destroy what the other 
had built up the tlay before. So that Ixocbc do lioeuf, instead of 
becoming a prosperous mill locality, as it should have been, became 
the scene of entlless strife and litigation. Without saying anything 
about Thompson — Hichar<lson was in every sense of the word a 
bad man. He was a tall man, with a well-proportioned tigure. 
tlaxen hair and corresponding features; and it wa.s then remarked 
that he would make a good model for an an(5ient Anglo Saxon. If 
a bad man was needed for such a model, certainly they could 
scarcely obtain a better one. 

Porter had labored for Richardson at the mills, as a carpenter 



300 A Murder Trial. 



and laborer, and had considerable rlaims for such labor, while 
Richardson could not be induced to pay, or do anything, except 
to taunt Porter that he could not collect liis claims. This taunt, 
without denying in any manner the justice of the claim, he would 
cast up to Porter in the most aggravating manner. At last Porter 
became indignant and irritated beyond the power of his endurance. 
One evening after dark, while Richardson was sitting in his hall 
with his family and others around him, Porter came unexpectedly 
and immediately shot him dead in his chair. Porter went oif an- 
nouncing that it was he. Great excitement was produced over the 
whole river, and much search was made to find Porter. After a 
day or two Porter returned — gave himself up, avowing that he did 
the act to avenge his wrongs. He was incarcerated, and in due 
time brought to trial in the Supreme Court for the county. That 
court was held by Judge Peter Hitchcock and Judge Henry Brush. 
I was the Prosecuting Attorney, and Mr. Higgins (afterward Judge) 
was appointed to defend Porter. Porter did not desire to make 
any defence, became religiously convicted, and very peaitent. It 
was with difficulty that his friends could persuade hira to go into 
a trial, with the hope of procuring his acquittal on the grounds 
of his insanity. But when the defence commenced, that ground 
was urged with energy and ability, Mr. Higgins urged every cir- 
cumstance to the jury to prove his insanity and want of discretion. He 
called the attention of the jury to the fact, that by law he had the 
I'ight to make his choice to be tried in the Court of Common Pleas 
ijistead of the Supreme Court, which would delay his trial and put 
it off until some time late in the fiall. Judge Hitcficock noticed the 
turn that this argument might take ; and never missing an oppor- 
tunity of perpetrating his wit and jokes, called out : " What, what, 
Mr. Higgins, do you contend that it is evidence of the man's 
insanity, that he chooses to be tried by us ? " 

In opposition to this claim of insanity, I put the grounds of prose- 
cution upon the theory adopted by Lord Erskine in Hadfield's case: 
That every person is responsible for his acts whenever lie acts upon 
actual facts and real circumstances. That all that Porter claimed as 
motives for his acts — the injuries and insults received from Rich- 
ardson — were all founded upon actual facts and real circumstances. 
There was no delusion or unreal facts about his case. Whatever acts 
he committed, or whatever motives actuated him, they were like all 
the rational acts of the rest of mankind, founded upon real facts 
and actual circumstances. The court adopted this view of the 
case, and Porter was convicted. In about a month afterward, in 
pursuance of the judgment of the court, he was executed by being 
hung, in the ravine at the east end of Fort Meigs. Thus terminated 
a tragedy in which the law triumphed, where the sympathies of the 
people of Wood county were far more with Porter than with 
Richardson. 

About 1825, Judge Lane succeeded Judge Tod as Judge of the 



Th' Old Bench — 2ripf< to Defiavce. ."^Ol 



Common Pleas, and about the same time the courts were orcjanized 
at Defiance for Williams county, then incliulint; all the northwestern 
part of ihe Stiite west of Wood county. Judge Lane's circuit^of 
the r'onimon Pleas then included the wliole of the Northwestern 
part of the .State — including the counties of Huron, Kicliland, Dela- 
ware, and Union, being fully one-lburth of the State. He was very 
|)unctual in attending the courts of Perrysburg and Defiance, and 
Gage and myself always accompanied him : and they were fre- 
quently attended by other lawyers from other parts of the country. 
Those e.vcursions liom Perrysburg to Defiance, in 'ittending the 
courts there, were enjoyed with rare pleasure and atteniled with 
considerable excitement, ^\'e usually made the trip on horse-back, 
but frequently when the river was in a high stage of water, 
we would procure a canoe at Defiance and make our way 
l)ack by water. We frequently took two days to make the trip, 
and then would make Prairie Damasque our half-way stopping place 
over night, at the liouse oi' Judge Vance, a brother of Governor 
Vance, of Ohio ; a welcome and desirable resting place ; and which 
was made thrice interesting and acceptable by his good French 
lady for a wife, whose accomplishments, especially as a house- 
kee|)er, made his home and hospitality most acceptable. 

At that time. Defiance consisted only of a few houses, such as would 
l)e found at a new town of th'- smaller dimensions ; a warehouse on 
the b.ank of the river aflbrded a couit house, and the house of Mr. 
Livell allbr<h'(l us a hotel. Yet the term there w:is attendeil with in- 
terest an<l pleasure. Fiequently the cases tried were of a highly 
interesting character — creating considerable excitement. Many 
lawyers were frequently congregated there from various parts of 
Oliio. sometimes Judge Ewiiig and a Mr. Cooper, from Fort 
Wayne. At those times our social meetings were often animated 
and highly interesting. Judge Lane, so distinguished for his learn- 
ing and intelligence, and who afterwanl became one of the ablest 
of the distinguished Judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and 
forms a brilliant figure in its judicial history, would be our leader 
in learning, science .and literature ; Gage, in anecdotes, jokes and 
eccentricities ; and all would contribute, what in any country or 
society, would render the gathering marked and highly interesting. 
Nor was the journey void of many interesting incidents. Among 
which is that of Gage getting a man at Prairie l)ema.-;que so far 
entangled in the meshes of the law, as to secure him under the 
prcmiise of professional .assistance, to eng;ige to take us uj) to Defi- 
ance in a canoe, by water. Our horses were left at the Prairie, and 
we were relieved by a voyage instead of a ride. When Ave arrive<l 
at Defiance. (Jagi? made a new engagement with his client, that, in 
case he would clear him from his legal restraints, he would take us 
all back again to the Prairie at the end of the term. G;ige soon 
prociired a writ of habeas corpus, upon which his client was released ; 
and as compensation for whieh, we were taken back by water, an(i 



302 Perils of Navigating the Mapids. 



Gage had a long standing credit, of killing two birds with one 
stone — engaging the man to take us up, by getting him into diffi- 
culty, and then to take \is back again, by getting him out. 

In return from court at Defiance, in the spring of the year (I 
think it was 1827), Gage and myself came down the river in a 
canoe. The river was extremely high at that time, and we made 
our way down rapidly and pleasantly until we were below Roche 
de Boeuf. So far we had passed the dangers of the rapids without 
difficulty ; but when we were near the island, opposite Waterville, 
a person on the south shore, near to which we were keeping and 
intended to keep, called out to us, as though he intended to give 
us some important instructions, which we took to be, to " keep 
close to the island," but it possibly may have been as we intended 
to do, to keep close to the shore. The river was high, and the 
rolling surges of the water on the rapids just below the island, was 
truly terrific. It was much more like the frightful waves of the 
ocean in a boisterous storm, than anything else it could be com- 
pared to. In accordance with what we took to be the directions 
of the stranger, we turned our canoe towards the island, and along 
the shore of which we passed forward without difficulty. But im 
mediately iipon leaving the foot of the island, we found ourselves, 
in a frail canoe, in the midst of the frightful waves and breakers of 
the rapids, and by them tossed so that it seemed impossible for us 
to live a moment. I turned my sight towards Gage, and beheld the 
most frightened face I ever saw upon man ; and perhaps mine was no 
better. We immediately made for the shore again, and our perils 
were soon over. It was indeed a very providential esca|^e from the 
most imminent danger. I have seen many perils, but I look upon 
that moment as the most critical of my whole life. 

One of the most interesting characters of the persons who were 
figuring on the Maumee in those early days, was that of a person, 
then and since well known as Major Stickney. This person had 
been appointed by Mr. Jefferson as Indian Agent, and as such had 
long resided in the Western country — first at Upper Sandusky, and 
then at Fort Wayne. About the time I came to the Maumee, he 
was residing at the mouth of Swan Creek, on the immediate banks 
of the river, at a place then known as Port Lawrence. He Avas a 
man of some intelligence, and assumed to be a scholar and philoso- 
pher. His wife was a highly respectable lady — every way amiable, 
and a daughter of the celebrated General Stark, of the Revolution. 
But Mrs. Stickney's accomplishments did not prevent him from 
resorting to all kinds of eccentricities. A part of this was to be 
as much as possible, like no body else. This he carried out in the 
naming of his children. Not after any names found in either Chris- 
tian or profane history ; but the boys were to represent the 
numerals, and the girls the States — as far as their numbers v/ould 
go. The boys, therefore, were named One, and Two, etc , and 
t()iough be coudescepded to pame his eldest daughter, from respect 



Major Benjamiv F. Sfichuy. 303 



to Mrs. Stickney. Mary, the rest of his daughters wore named after 
the States — Indiana. .Michigan etc. This eccentricity produced 
some of the most ridiculous anecdotes: amongst which is the Ibl- 
low'ing : Soon alter the family moved to Port Lawrence, and living 
in a house put up at the landing of the mouth ot Swan Creek, Mrs. 
S. one niuruiug came to the piazza in front of the house, where a 
vessel laid at anchor, and called to her sous, and sai<l, " Two call 
One to hreakfast.'" A sailor aboard the vessel looked up and said : 
•'Is this Maumee ' It is a terrible hard country, if it takes two to 
call one to breakfast."' 

In the spring of \><'1\. Major Stickney was a ruling .sjiirit at Swan 
Creek. There was then a thriving settlement in the neighborhood, 
amongst which was a Mr. Wilson, the custom house officer of the 
port. Major Keeler. living on his farm, and others whose names I 
have forgotten, besides a number cf French, Indian traders and 
immigrants — Yankees and forei::ners. Up to this time Swan Creek 
had been without a question within the jurisdiction of Ohio. Writs 
had been issued from Maumee. in Wood county to them, as wit- 
nesses, jurors and suitors, and they until then, had answered as 
such without a <|uestion as to jurisdiction. But other views had 
entered into Major Stickney "s policy and pliilosophy. He called 
a public meeting of the citizens; and to them wlien thus assembled, 
he represented, that the citizens of the incipient city had very 
seriously mistaken their interest as to the tjuestion — where the 
true northern line of the State of Ohio was. He did not care as 
to what the constitution of the State of Ohio said on the subject — 
the true line was the one run <lue east from the soutb.crn e.vtremity 
of Lake Michigan; which run considerably south of Port Lawrence, 
and would leave thon in the T>'rritory ot Michigan, instead of the 
State of Ohio, and therefore they were Wolverines instead ot" Buck- 
eyes. That it was greatly their interest to be so. That while they 
were citizens of the Territory they would be cherished and j»rotected 
under the auspices and guardianship of the United States: while in 
Ohio, they could not e.xpect anything excei)t to bcta.xed. He said lu' 
was well acquainted with (ieneral Cass, the Governor of Michi- 
gan, and would go to him, and get a commission of a Justice of the 
Peace for Michigan for that place, in case the citizens there would 
sustain him. The motion carried — the secession was complete. 
Major S, procured his commission and was e.vercising the jurisdic- 
tion of a Justice of the Peace of Michigan over the seceded terri- 
tory. Soon after these things had matured. (General J. E Hunt, 
ot Alaumee, had some official business to transact at Port Law- 
rence, as an ofticer of Wooil comity. The citizens there threw every 
obstacle in his way to prevent the discharge of his duties, and to 
convince him that they had really sece<led. Gci;eral II. returned 
with just complaint of the conduct of the citizens there. A meet- 
ing of the Commissioners of the county w.as called, at which I 
acted 88 advisory member, as ProBCCuting Attorney. The question 



304 Major Stichney^s Policy. 



was, what shall be done with the seceding rebels — shall they be 
prosecuted and hung? Perhaps so, if justice were done them. But 
mild and discreet measures and counsels were adopted. It was 
considered that Congress and the State of Ohio would in due time 
settle the question, and in the meantime it was neither discreet nor 
prudent to get up a war which could be avoided. This policy pre- 
vailed, and they were let " alone in their glory." 

In the meantime a very serious and interesting question arose in 
the aftairs ol the Maumee Valley. Under the authority of the 
State of Ohio, a survey had been made for a canal along the valley, 
and the great question was where that canal should terminate. Judge 
Gaddis, of New York, who had been employed as Civil Engineer 
for Ohio, had reconnoitered the valley and determined that the 
canal should terminate at the foot of the rapids — that a dam with a 
sloop lock should be placed on Knagg's bar, just below Maumee 
City and Perrysburg, and the river from there down, to be im- 
proved for ship navigation. When this matter was so ascertained, 
Major Stickney called another meeting of the citizens of Swan 
Creek, and to them he now represented that they had committed a 
great error iu seceding from Ohio, and going over to Michigan ; 
that while they belonged to Michigan, they could not expect that 
the State of Ohio would construct the canal to Swan Creek. They 
must go back to Ohio. They must secede from Michigan and go 
back to Ohio again. They must undo their former secession and 
rebellion, or they could not expect to secure the canal. Thereupon 
all sorts of resolutions were adopted, to the eft'ect, that they were, 
and of right should be a part and parcel of the State of Ohio ; that 
Ohio was a great and glorious State, and that they would maintain 
their position, if necessary, at the point of the bayonet. 

These measures succeeded in arousing Michigan to a demonstra- 
tion of war. Militia soldiers were sent from Detroit by land and 
water to Swan Creek, to whip the rebels into subjection to their 
legitimate authority. They came, in war arrayed, and took posses- 
sion of the territory where the proud City of Toledo now stands, 
made the citizens succumb to the power and jurisdiction of Michi- 
gan. They returned back to Detroit in the most jubilant triumph, 
drinking all sorts of toasts to the glory of Michigan and to anathe- 
matize Major Stickney in Ohio, one of which was, " Here is lo 
Major Stickney's potatoes and onions — we draft their tops and their 
bottoms volunteer." 

This was all to the wishes of the Major, and in accordance with 
his policy. He went immediately to Columbus, to represent to the 
Governor and people of Ohio, the intolerable barbarity of the Wol- 
verines, and how they had desecrated the just authority of Ohio, 
and trampled under foot the loyal citizens of the State. The State 
was aroused by these means to a proper sense of her dignity and inju- 
ries. War was declared, and troops raised in every part of the State. 
||.egimei}t after reginnent were marched to the disputed tenitory on 



lieininiacencts oj Mr. J'oirell. 'M)l 



the Muumee. Suine fighting was done, and little blood spill, Wui 
the transaction will lie renu-nibert'd as the Michigan War of \H\\:\. 
In the meantime, iu>wever, C'(tn<^ie.ss interfen-d by seiulinf? Peace 
(yummisionerd to the distracted country, and by makinp the dia- 
puled territory a part ul the State ol' Ohio. This seLlled the 
question ol' jurisdiction, and the excitement produced b\ the war 
eualjled Major Stickney to get the canal nol t)nly t</ Toledo, but 
even to Manhattan, live miles beyond where they wanted it, or had 
any use Inr it. Never, in either ancient or nujdern history, haa 
there been an instance of .secession and reb^'llion so successlul, 
and no one is so entitled tt» Ik- the hero of one of tluin, as Major 
btickuey of this. 

1 have thus sketched a number of inciilents in my rem.uisceDccg 
ot the times 1 Was a citizen uf the \'allcy of the Maumet^. 

And now it may ln' ini|uiretl by some one, how it was that 1 came 
to leave the country, after a residence there of ten years, and haviug 
so admired the country and so hopetui ol its future? 1 ueNcr 
changed my opinion of the country in either of these respecti ; 
but after Imttling for its prosperity so long, 1 became convinced 
that the time for its prosperity, that I so firmly anticiiiateil, would 
not come in time to answer my i)urpose. Hut in this, after all, I 
may have committed an error of judgment. Fn^ni various causes 
the valley did not i)rogress and improve, from 1H25 to iSlio, as was 
autii;i]»ated by almost all its friends. None changed their opinion 
of its ultimate destiny — it was only a question of time ; and in that 
I had been mistaken. 

From l.s:;*() to 1830, a vast new country was thrown open by the 
United States to emigration. Throujfhout the whole West, there 
were numerous enticing i)laces, holding forth their future promises 
to emigrants, besides tile Maumee. Duriner that lime tlnuisandsof emi- 
grants passed through the Maumee Valley to Indiana. Michigan, 
and other parts of the West; and it seemed as though tiiey i)ur- 
posely avoided this valley. The principal cause of this, was then 
Well known — the unhealthiness of the country. Since then such a 
change has come over the healthiness of the country, that no one 
who resided there during that time that I Inade it my residence, 
could believe that it would become so far improved jis it is at the 
present time. During the forepart of my residence there, the 
amount of sickness arising from bilious complaints in the shape 
of ague and fevers — intermittent and remittent of the most viru- 
lent type, was often frightful. This sickness would commence iu 
September and ()cto!)er, and last until some time in the cold 
Weather of the coming winter. Those who have Ix'eii in the 
country some years would become acclimated, and would be ex- 
empt from the effect of the sickly season. But during the time I was 
there, the Stranger wlio remained there would be a* certain to lie 
taken down in the course of the sickly seiison as that he remained. 
1 have known wh<»le families who came there in the spring of the 

90 



306 The late Count Coffinberry. 



year to be in the fall every one of them taken down, so that there 
would not be enough well persons to take care of those who were 
sick. Yet, by Christmas and New Year, all this would be entirely 
forgotten, and all would become jubilant and joyful. The old 
citizens who had been there before the war of lyi2, declared that 
before the war, the country was healthy, and did not at all suffer 
from bilious complaints. Without stopping to speculate upon the 
question, how it came that the country was so much healthier before 
the war, and has so greatly improved in point of health since 1835, 
I will only say that the character of the country for health from 
1820 to 1835, was the great cause of the delay in the rapid improve- 
ment of the country, which, with the wet character of the lands in 
the country back from the river, caused a delay in the settlement 
and improvement of the country, and brought it almost to a stand- 
still from 1825 to 1835. In tiie fall of 1830, I became utterly dis- 
couraged, and so disappointed in my expectations, which were that 
the country would grow up as Toledo has since, that I came to the 
reluctant determination tu leave the country. I left there in 
November, 1830, after a most determined struggle of ten years for 
the interest and prosperity of the valley. A few weeks before Jno. 
C. Spiuk, Esq., came there as a resident lawyer, and occupied my 
place and office ; whose memory still lives fresh in the recollection 
of the present inhabitants of the country, and over whose decease, 
they are ready, I doubt not, to bestow a sympathetic tear to his 
many generous qualities and virtues. 

I must now close, with the warmest and kindest feelings of respect 
for those old citizens of the valley with whom I was so long identi- 
fied in the struggle for the welfare and prosperity of the country, 
and to them I bid an atfectionate farewell. 

Thomas W. Powell. 



COUNT COFFINBERBY. 

Conspicuous amon * the old time lawyers of the Maumee Valley, 
and beloved by his professional brethren, and by all with whom he 
came ii! contact, was the good Count Coffinberry. 

He obtained his sohriqitet by reason of his genteel address, and 
uniformly nice apparel. In these personal matters, Judge Potter 
was also, in those days, lastidious, and during his judicial service, 
accompanied often by roystering members of the bar, and tossed 
about for lodgings in miscellaneous places, he would permit no one 
to share his room and bed except the Count. 

When traversing the circuit, the journeys always being on horse- 
back, the Count carried in his portmanteau, or saddle-bags a con- 



Thi lak Count 0>rfinl>irrif. 'M)1 



siderabli' vvanlrobu. ll was <luriug a heated lerui of the .sutniner 
solstiee, when the roailM were .supposed to have been exhausted of 
water and mud, that Judge Potter, Judge iiiggins, Mr. Coffiuberry, 
John ( '. Spink, James G. Haley, and some others, lefl Detiauce for 
Kalida, to attend the opening of the Common Pleas Court. The 
good Count had deckeil liimself in lils best — iearing no evil in the 
form of rain or ot water or mud ; but sonieliow, before ihe party 
traversed those ihirty-iwo miles, his apparel, so limitless on starting 
out, was in a condition when he reached Kalida to exhibit him as 
the most sorry specimen ot the whole party —the mud-marks upon 
his linen being more conspicuous than those upon the coarser gar- 
ments of his travelling companions, and giving his clothing the 
general appearance of the unchangeable spots ot ihe leopard. He 
was in ill-liumor with him;^eil, by reason oi" ill.^ personal appearance, 
when he entered llie village; but ihe contents ot his portmaJiLeau 
enabled him to ap[>ear next morning, as usual, ''nice as a pin." 

One who, during the lite-time of Mr. Coffinberry, was a juiuur 
member of the l)ar, but since achieved eminence in his profes.sion, 
contributes the following : 

Andrew Coffinberry, Esq., was born at Martinsburg, Berkley 
county, Virginia, August 'iOth, 17'^>', where his grandparents had 
settled in 17.">0, having emigrated Irom Wirtemburg anil ^sLraslmrg. 
He removed with his father, George Coflinberry or Coliiub,7/y/a/', as 
his German neighbors called him, to Ohio county, Virginia, in i7:)!i, 
and from there to Chilicothe. Ohio, in l.^O'i; tlieuce lO Lanca>ter, 
Ohio, in 1M>7. Ar this place he leit liis father and shipped for two 
years in the naval service, an<l served his time unde.- iJainbridge 
and Hull, then rejoined his lather, who had removed to Manslieid, 
Ohio, in the fall ot l^Ot^, or spring of ihU'.'. He remained Witii liis 
father during the yar of lM"J-i:i, living sometimes in a log cabin, 
and at others, when the settlement WiLs menaced by hostile Indians, 
in <jn • of the two block-houses erected upon the public square of the 
village. At the close ot the war he read law with John M. Mav, 
Esq., at Manstield, where he continued to reside until lie removed to 
Perrysl)urg, in INJO. For .some years before leaving M.iusiield, he 
regularly alten<led the sessions of the ( ommon Plciis and Supreme 
C'our;s in ai! or nearly all the cuuntie.-. oi .sorthwestern Ohio, be- 
ginning with the organization of most ot these counties, and contin- 
uing dt)wn to a few year.s betore his death, wliich transpired at 
Kindlay. Ohio, .May 1:.'.' \'^''U. 

We are not able to stati- letinilely at what time he tirst began to 
alli-nd theCourt^• «if Wood a;id Lucas counties, but he was of counsel 
to (iovernor Lucas in the border controversy between the State of 
Ohio autl Territory ul' .Michigan, and accompanied Governor Liicatt 



308 2 he late Count Coffinherry. 



in his military expedition to the frontier, for the purpose of vindica- 
ting by the ivcKjor of baffle, the title of the State of Ohio to the har- 
bor of Toledo, in the spring of 1835. 

There are but few of his cotemporaries left to bear testimony to 
his ability as a lawyer and his worth as a man. 

But when it is understood that for almost half a century he was 
associated in the practice ol his profession with men of the character 
and 'caliber of Thomas Ewing, Charles H. Sherman, William and 
Henry Stanberry. Willis Sillimau, Ebenezer Lane, Josiah Scott, 
Orris Parish, T. W. Bartley, Jacob Parker, and Hosmer and Henry 
B. Curtis ; and in the later years of his life with Richard Cook, Geo. 
B. Way, John C. Spink, Thomas W. Powell, Henry S. Commager, 
D. O. Morton, M. H. Tilden, M. R. Waite, and many others scarcely 
less distinguished laAvyers of the Maumee Valley; and that he was 
beloved and honored by them without an exception, it is almost 
superfluous for us to say that he was not only an excellent lawyer, an 
honest, honorable man. but a great hearted, genial gentleman as well. 

His boyliood was passed so entirely upon the extreme verge of 
Western civilization, and so surrounded with the perils of Indian 
warfare and the vicissitudes of poineer life, as to deprive him of the 
advantages of early culture. He informed us that he had attended 
school for but three months of his life, but by his own unaided efforts 
he acquired a good English education, made considerable proficiency 
in the study of the French and German languages, and became a well 
read and thoioughly intelligent man. He was indifferent to the 
acquisition of wealth, fearless and out spoken in the expression of 
his convictions on all subjects, never united with a church, and never 
became a member of any association, order or society of any kind. 
He was without malice, and there was no taint of bitterness or ill- 
nature in his composition, but he could not tolerate pedantry, 
hypocrisy or humbug of any kind. He was faithful to all his en- 
gagements, zealous and efficient in the cause of his client. If he 
ever had a hobby, it was his passion for the study and investigation 
of geological science. His habits were always good, his life was 
simple and pure^^ but amongst all his compeers no one enjoyed con- 
vivial occasions more than he, whilst his quaint wit and pleasant 
temper contributed largely to the enjoyment of others. Many good 
stoi'ies are told of him. Having one night attended the wedding 
party of his friends John M. May and Miss Eliza Wolf, his 4 years 
old boy appeared at his bedside at day break the- next morning, and 
called him to account for keeping late hours the night before. He 
was told that his falhir and mother had been out until after midnight 
helping May catch a Wolf. The urchin took to his trotters and made 
a straigtit shirt-tail, (having no other garment on) for May's lodging, 
where he promptly appeared shouting, "Mr May, I want to see your 
Wolf." May replied '"here she is, 'Gunner,' come and see her." The 
urchin scrambled upon the bed and was fairly caught by "Mr. 
May's Wolf" 



Thf JaU Count Coffinherry. .'^OP 



Being pitted against Judge Higgins, at Kalida, in the defence of a 
Riander suit, tho Judge who was a venerable looking man, with a 
pale fare and hair as white as snow, dosed his speech by reading 
with solemn voice and reverent air. si-veral verses from the Kible 
condemnatory of the tongue of the slanderer, «fcc. Apprehensive that 
it was getting to be a solemn occasion for his client, the Count 
slowly rose to his feet, adjusted his spectacles, elevated his nose to 
an angle of about 45 degrees and in a most clerical tone addressed 
himself to the Court and said : " Your Ifon'rs, sJiiiH •ir .v//r' .' " The 
Ju<lges struggled till they were black in the face to comport them- 
selves with becoming dignity ; V)ut it would not do ; judges, jurors, 
lawyers and spectators were convulsed with laughter, but the Count 
looked as solemn as a funeral, while Judge Higgins" unfortunate 
client was being literally laughed out of Court. 

The Count an<1 his son James were upon one occasion opposed to 
each other in a trial botore the Wood County Common Pleas, of a 
suit brought to recover damages for deceit practiced in the sale of 
a horse. A young gentleman of al)Out his own age liad given very 
damaging evidence to the younger CofTinbcrry's case, and for tlie 
jxirpose of belittling the witness, and having the jury unflerstan<l 
that he was but an inexperienced boy, James on cross examination 
continually athlressed him as •' George,"" which the Count thought un- 
becoming in his son, and disrespectful to liis intelligent witness. 
Finally James said : 'George, wont you tell the Court anil jury what 
state of flesh that horse was in?" Whereupon the Count leaned over 
the table towards his son, and whispered just loud enough to be 
heard by everybody in the court room : ''Jeeras. ' that creetur was 
probably in a state of horse flesh." ^' J<t/ii-'-" subsided. 



The writer of the foregoing, although possessing better opportu- 
nities than any one living for a knowledge of the character of the 
Count, is mistaken on one point. He rh'd belong to a secret society, 
and on one occasion, as High Priest of the "sublime order' of the 
Thousand and One. during a Court term at Fimllay, was master of 
the imposing ceremonies attending the initiation of the la'e Ren. 
Metcalfand " the subscriber, " then both residents of Kalida. into 
the mysteries of that wonderful organization. It was an impiessi\e 
scene, and one which the surviving witnesses will not fortrct. while 
memory holds its seat. 

General Hill, of Toledo, relates the following anecdote ot ihc 
Count : 

The dignity and grace of the Count in addressing a Court or jury, 
were conspicuous, and even his attitude was very marked. In the 
year 1k4o he was the Whig candidate for the State Senate, and 
Colonel William Sawyer, then a resident of Miamisburg, Montgom- 



310 The Co'unt on ilie Stii7np. 



ery conrity, was the Democrntic candidate for Congress against 
Patrick G. Goode. It was during tlie famous "hard-cider and log 
cabin'' campaign, and party spirit ran high. C*olonel Sawyer, having 
been advertised to address a meeting at Maumee City, the friends 
of ]\Ir. Coffiiiberry challenged Sawyer to engage in a joint discussion 
to be held at Perry sburg. Colonel Sawyer promptly accepted the 
challenge. The odds were unequal, as the Count, although a lawyer 
of acknowledged power, possessed none of the elements which form 
the successful politician ; while Sawyer was an old campaigner, and 
thoroughly posted on public measures and party issues, and on all 
the arts and devices of the politician. Under the arrangement, 
Sawyer made the opening speech. He charged upon the leaders of 
the Whig party that tliey were aristocrats, controlling the banking 
and moneyed interests of the country, and that their prolessed sym- 
pathy with the real dwellers in log cabins was a sham and a fraud. 
The Avire-pullers of the Whig party, he said, occupied the palaces 
of the land, and were arrayed in purple and fine linen. [And here 
he gave a significant glance at the Count himself, designed to con- 
vey the intimation that 7/^; was ''one of 'em."] 

" As to myself,'' continued Rawyer. " I Avas born in a log cabin, 
and I yet reside in a log cabin. My blacksmith shop, where, when 
at home, my circumstances compel me to severe toil about twelve 
hours out of the twenty-four, is a log cabin. My associations, sym- 
patliies and hopes have ever been, and now are. identified with the 
pioneers of tlie country, and the occupants ol log cabins. Can my 
highly aristocratic friend who is to follow me in this discussion, and 
who resides in a lordly mansion .almost within sight of this audience, 
say this for himself?" 

Slightly embarrassed and vexed, the Count rose, struck his 
characteristic " attitude. '' and commenced by deprecating the per- 
sonal allusions in which his friend. Colonel Sawyer, had thought 
proper to indulge. To get even with his opponent, he tossed his 
head back to a point that looked towards the zenith, and exclaimed, 
with great emphasis : '' Yes, gentlewc??, if there is any merit in hav- 
ing been Ii-n-r-n in a log cabin, I. too, Mr. Chairman, and ladies, 
and fellow- citizens, was born in a log cabin — in tlie first instance ! " 
The latter part of the sentence bems: one that he was accustomed to 
use in his opening addresses before courts and juries. This incident 
virtually closed the political controversy between Mr. Coffinberry 
and Colonel Sawyer, and, for that campaign, at least, virtually 
placed the former upon the retired list 

A scene that in our day would be considered rare in a court room, 
but one that, in the time it occurred, was a characteristic episode, 
happened at the fall term of the Court of Common Pleas held iu 
ISlapoleon. in 1839, the first year of Potter's judicial service. The 
Court at this time occupied the second floor over the kitchen and 
«3ining room, of the tavern kept by General Leonard. This was a 



Court 8cen^ at Napoleov. ."^ll 

storv-and-a-half lop house, covering: about Ifi by 25 feet of pro""'!- 
The C'onrt were seated upon a platform slijrhtly elevated, at the end 
of the room opposite the narrow door-way and stair case : and to thp 
riffht of the Court sat the jury, a rou^jh-looking, but honest body 
of men, as fully alive to the responsibilities of their oaths, as any 
twelve men who could probably now be selected to discharge the 
same duties in Henrv county. 

The jury occupied a sin^jle row of piinch<on seat*, so placed that 
they could rest their shoulders a;:ainst tiie lo<; walls of tlv building: 
— something after the custom adopted for a class of boys and girls in 
an old time spelling school. 

The case on trial wa.s an old one — not as musty, probably, as the 
chancery suit described by Dickens, "Jarndyce /•>■. Jarndyce ; " yet 
it had much odor of antiquity. It was familiarly known to the old 
hnhitnea of the court sessions, and particularly to the clerk who 
wrote the docket, as " Morehead m Rohn ; " and a suit that originat<^d 
in a claim of plaintiff for a pig, which he valued at two and a half 
dollars. As near as can be ascertained, the claim was commenced bo- 
fore a Justic" of the Peace some time during the first quarter of the 
present century : and Judge Potter found this case upon his cal- 
endar when he held his first Court at Napoleon. As regards both 
parties to the controversy, it will be inferred, all reflections upon the 
disputed title to the swine aside, that the litigation in its inc<'ption 
and progress, developed in both adversaries qualities savoring in an 
t^minent degree of pig-headedness. At this term, all expedients for 
further delays and postponoment^ having been exhausted, and the 
uncomjiromising l)ellig<'r(nits having each expended nearly their 'sub- 
stance — the "bottom dollar" of both bt^ing then visible to the naked 
eye — there wjis rea.son to believp that the conflict would be brought 
to a final close. Defendant's counsel was an old and able Attonvy, 
and extremely punctilious on points of judicial dpcorum. (having 
himself occupied the bench,) and was also possessed of a murcurial 
and sanguine temperament. The oft-repeated tentimony in the case 
was again rehearsed and closctl. The attorney for defendant had 
labored faithfully for his client, and it now became in order for him 
to address the jury. It was his habit to wear spectacles not only 
whpn he had occasion to refpr to and read the law authorities and 
his manuscript notes, but also during the tim<^ occupied in expound- 
ing matters to the jury, which he had a peculiar style in adjusting, 
so arranging them that one of the glasses would cover an ''•vf, while 



312 CovH Scene at Napoleon. 

the other would be turned downward, and rest upon his cheek. 
Hence he would only "go one eye" on the jury, or on any other 
given object. It was also his custom to select a single juryman, and 
concentrate his look and speech upon him alone. This he was partic- 
ular to do in the present instance. 

But it so happened that at one end of the range of puncheon seats 
occupied by the jury, and tha tend the head and most conspicuous, 
as well as most convenient to the grotesque vision of the attorney, 
there was a vacant space just large enough to seat another man. A 
spectator who had become weary of standing upon his feet, discov- 
ered this opening, and at a moment when the lawyer had paused in 
his address, and was engaged in a search for some law authority on 
the table before him. this " sovereign " quietly took possession of the 
vacant place. The attorney lifted his countenance from the book, 
having read his authority; and, not discovering that one had been 
added to the lawful number of jurymen, resumed his address: 

"Gentlemen of the jury, " [looking full in the face, through both 
eyes — one, as usual, naked, and the other clothed with a lens — at the 
raw recruit, whom he had mistaken for one of the jury, and, judg- 
ing from his conspicuous position, very likely the foreman]. " (ren- 
tlemen of the jury. I want to know what this man," [meaning, of 
course, the plaintiff,] " has come into Court for ? Why is he here ? 
Now, I repeat, gentlemen of the jury, why is he here ? " 

The self-chosen juror, not doubting that these high-sounding 
interrogatories were addressed to any other than himself, made haste 
to utter a tremendous oath, that fairly "roared in the index'' — there 
were some profane, vulgar people in those days, as there are many 
now — 

"'I'm around, sir, a witness ; have been here these three days, 
waitin' for my fees, and nary a dime can I git. Thafs. what I'm 
here for I Pay me my witness fees, sir, and I'll git out. " 

The attorney was shocked, dumbfounded, and very tremendously 
insulted. An explosion by members of the bar, bench, and others 
was imminent. The Court put on its most elaborate marble front- 
The brethren of the bar, among whom were the genial and mirth- 
loving Count Coffinberry, James G. Haley and John C. Spink, strug- 
gled manfully to maintain the proprieties ; — broad grins overshad- 
owed some of the countenances of the jury and spectators ; while 
the unconscious offender sat as one suffering from a momentary par- 
alysis. The irate counsel, choking with passion, and losing sight, in 



Thf lak John C. Spink 313 



the paiif^s of his oxjiccrbiition, of the wealth of humor iuvolvr-d in 
the sceiK', (k-nianded the protection of the Court, and the condign 
punishment of the ofFenderl This appeal was: promptly complied 
with hy JndfTe Potter, so far as to say to the man : 

•' My friend, you will i)lease tlnd a situation a little lower down, 
and leave this space to the jury. " 

And thus ended this commin^fled tempest of wratii and merri- 
ment, and the attorney, after awhile recoverintr his equanimity, 
proceeded with his address to rhc jury. 

John C. Spink was one of the most br;lliaut and genial lawytr>- in 
tlir Maunu. ■."alley. Pri<»r to his removal hitiier, his residence had 
been in Wooster, of which city his family were pioneers, and held in 
high esteem. W. V. Way, Esfj., of Perrysburg, communieate.s the 
following: 

''Some time in the fall of 18."]4, I was at the old court house, on 
Front street, and Spink was riding past on an Indian pony. I had 
simie business with him, and reijuested him to stop. He replied 
that he had an engagement at Sloane's tavern, on the opposite side 
of the street, and requested that I cross over there, where we would 
transact our business. I informed Spink that his re<iuest was un- 
reasonable owing, to the condition of the streets, (at that time there 
were neither side-walks nor cross-walks, and a sea of mud extended 
from the court hon.se to Sloane's) and in order to reach there I 
should be eom]telled to walk a great distance around. S])ink, in a 
joking way, said that I should get uji l)ehind him, on the pony, and 
ridi' across. I seconded the joke, and sprang on : my feet, after gt.'t- 
ting on, reaching to the ground. I had scarcely mounted when the 
poi.y commenced kicking, and j'racticing a livelv donble-shunie — 
plunging out into the depths of the sea of nuul and water; but it 
was too late for me to get oft without going to my knees in the mud. 
Spink headed the pony for the tavern, and the beast persisted in 
doing just what might have been expected of him. if he had been 
indulging at the bar, and about leaving the tavern. The farther we 
progns.sed, the more frantic became the kicks of tin pony, until we 
got nearly acro.^s the street, and where the mire was deepest, when 
Spink and nivse^f were tossed over the animal's head into a world of 
trouble. When we straightened up, we found ourselves com])letely 
mud-clad. Spink's face was in a condition to destroy identification 
I y his most intimate friend-, and even his mouth was tilled. My 
own plight was equally sorry. As soon as he could speak — both of 
us standing in the mir.' facing each other — he stretched himself up 
as though h'- were in court, and af)OUt to utter the great smtence 
indicative of triumph in iiis ease, and shouted : *Way. if we fimr been 
wallowing in the mud like two silly boys, we have the proud satisfac- 
tion of knowing that wp are the two first lawyers in the county'-^ 



314 Coflnberry and Spink. 



the point of which consisted in the fact that we were the only prac- 
ticing lawyers in the county at that time." 

Mr. Way also relates the following on the authority of Joshua 
Chappel, who commenced his residence in Perrysburg in 1817: 

"In 1819 a man was owing Jacob Wilkinson a debt of about nine 
dollars, payable in fish at the next fishing season. The season 
came, and the fish were caught; but the debtor sold them, and 
pocketed the proceeds. Failing to meet his promise, Wilkinson 
called upon him, but could attain no other satisfaction than that if 
hf wanted the fish, he must catch them himself. In those days there 
was great leniency on the part of creditors towards poor debtors who 
could not pay, although the law imprisoning for debt was then in 
force. Wilkinson considered this man a fit subject for the extreme 
rigors of the law, and sued him — took judgment, and got out a ca fia 
— and had the debtor arrested, supposing that be would pay the 
small amount, rather than go to jail. Wood was then attached to 
Champaign county for civil purposes, and Urbana, about 150 miles 
distant, was the county seat, to which point the debtor would have 
to be taken to comply with the writ. The consta,ble started with the 
prisoner, furnishing him a horse to ride. They proceeded through 
the woods, having nothing but an Indian trail to follow, by the way 
of Fort Fiudlay. At this time there was not a white inhabitant 
living between. the foot of the rapids and Fiudlay. When they 
reached Urbana, the jailor refused to receive the prisoner, without 
payment of a week's board in advance, as the law provided. The 
constable, not having anticipated this demand, Avas not provided 
with the funds, and returned home wil.b the prisoner in his company. 
It is said the constable's bill against Wilkinson for services and 
expenses amounted to a little above $150." 

This case illustrates the disadvantages the early settles labored 
under in judicial proceedings; and particularly presents a strong 
case where a man going to law may have the right on the merits, yet 
get badly beaten on the execution. 

There were several non-resident lawyers who traveled with the 
Presiding .Judge from county to county through the circuit. They 
were commonly called circuit lawyers. The most prominent were 
Andrew Coffinberry and James Purdy, both then residents of Mans- 
field. Spink was the very embodiment of humor, and would turn 
every incident into fun. He was a genial and happy man in the 
society of those who conld'apprec'ate him. Count Coffinberry was. 
to all external appearance, as grave as a clergyman : yet he possessed 
a remarkable degree of humor, and only required some genius to draw 
his fire, and fun would begin in earnest. And just such a genius was 
Spink. Both were endowed with rare gifts, and each seemed par- 



Old Court Rcene-'i at Pfrryt^hmr/. HI 5 



tirnlarly r<»rnit'<l for the othor; yet two b^inp^s more nnlikp aro 
mri'ly IV>niul. 

Each t<'rm of Court in Wood county was a carnival of fun for the 
lawyers. The Prcsidincc .Tud^fc and circuit lawyers always )>nt up at 
Spatlord's Excliancjc, when' tin' Judijc occujiicd liahitnally the best 
sleeping room in the house, a capacious apartment in the northwest 
corner, over the bar room, to which the lawyers resorted nio;htly for 
asocial time. The Count, Spink and Way were the chief actors. 
Way was not naturally humorous, but the Count and Spink had 
a way of playing al)out and making him funny in spite of himself, 
and the three constituted a capiUil theatrical stock company, inclu- 
ding the orchestra, in which the Count represented the bassoon, 
Spink the violin, and May th;- trombone, while the Judge would 
act as stage manager. These entertainments were the most brilliant 
and hilarious during the time that our friend Judge Potter jiresided 
over tlie circuit. The Judge always preserved inviolate iiis dignity 
on the bench, but like a popular country school master would play 
with the boys out of school hours, and joined heartily in the laughs 
which his rare fund of humor always produced. The Judge some- 
times opened the entertainment by singing Iws favorite song of 
* Lord Lovel " which was always received with tremendnous applause, 
and the Pti'-orf fre(iu.'ntly r.spon<led to by "Rosin the Bow," in 
which he M'iis inimitable. 

Major McMiilen and Ralph O. Keeler resided in ihe county at. this 
time — K<eler near the present village of Weston, for whom the 
Keeler prairie was named, and McMillen about four miles south of 
Keeler in Milton township — and were about the tirst settlers in their 
respective neighborhoods. In those days the inhabitants were so few 
in the country that a large proportion of the po]iulation was neces- 
sary to make up the two juries and witnesses; conseipientlv they 
were verv often obliged \o come t<» Perrysburg during the periodical 
terms of Court, but fpiite as frerjuently their love of fun brought 
them to enjoy the holiday merriment of the " Bur Tlirnlrc/' These 
entertainments were usually limited to the lawyers, but the rare 
social qualities and wit of Keeler and the Major, secured them a 
place among the favf)red few. On one of these occasions. Keeler 
■ mphatically declared he had attAined the very finale of happiness, 
and when the Count had cmcluded one of his happiest renditions of 
"Jupiter in love with the .Mermaid." Major McMillen pitched from 
his chair, rolled on the floor, kicked up his heels and sang out. 



316 The late John 0. Spink. 

"scripture says ' woe unto you, lawyers,' but if this is the way you 
enjoy life in this world, you can well afford to endure a little scorch- 
ing in the next. '' 

Our good host, Jarvis Spaflford, was usually a participant in these 
festivities , when not engaged in preparing hot punclies for the 
performers. 

Spink was a successful lawyer. Although not possessing the habit 
of great industry, he had a keen perception of the winning point in 
his cases, and seldom failed to make it available, especially in the 
defence of criminals. 

He used to say he was unlike other lawyers, in having become a 
practitioner without making the usual "maiden speech " at the l)ar, 
but that he made his maiden speech hefore an nu<Hence of maidens 
in tlie swamp between Perrysburg and Lower Sandusky under the 
following circumstances : Soon after he was admitted, but before 
commencing practice, he was traveling over the Black Swamp road 
in company with a young clergyman, whose professional pin feathers 
were of about equal length with his own, and they put up together at 
a tavern at Sugar Creek, a few miles west of the present town of 
Fremont. 

At that time the road had not been McAdamized and was one of 
the very wors^. to travel, but it was, however, used a great deal. 
Taverns were all small, log buildings and travelers were compelled 
to put up with whatever accommodations tliey could find. 

It was laie when Spink and his companion reached the tavern ; 
supper was over, and the house crowded with moving families, but 
the landlord, having an eye to profit, assured tliem of comfortable 
quarters, which they gladly accepted. During the preparation of 
suppiM', the movers were stowed away for sleeping, as well as possible, 
though there was but one bed in the house unoccupied by the family. 
This spare bed room being the cleanest, the female movers were 
assigned the floor on which to make their beds, of their own bedding, 
while the bed was reserved for the newly arrived professional gentle- 
men. The room was small, and dimly lighted by a smouldering fire 
when they were assigned their bed, to wJiich they were compelled to 
make way through a sea of women. Arriving there, they discovered 
the faces of the women all turned upon them, and themselve? unable 
to elude their embarrassing gaze. How to proceed was a problem 
they could not readily solve, as this was their first adventure in a 
new country, involving undressing in presence of women. 



Jinlge James M. (opiihernj. -il 



At length the niinistiT calmly pullKl offliis coat aiul urfkod Spink 
to hold it strotcJM'd out in both hands l.t-twcL-n him and th.- women, 
which he did, and the minister quietly got into bed, covered up and 
left his legal con.panion to escape from the dilliculty as Ik- best 
uiiyht. Spink «ra.< sorely perplexed. H.- could not -.-t tlu- landlord 
to come and h,.ld th.- coat f<.r him, as h.- had alna<ly ivlin-d. To 
get in with his puntalo ,ns on was out of the question as they were 
covered with mud and wet. Had each lace been a pointed n.usket 
to be discharged the instant he should be divested of his lower gar- 
ments, he coul.l have been little more terrified. Finally, rellecting 
that, as a lawver, he must be compelled to make his living by his 
wits, Ik determined to make then and tlK're his " Maiden Speech ' 
t(. the fair oecupants of the floor, which, he i)roceeded to do in about 
the following language. " Ladies, this is my bed, and I am without 
means of screening myself from your observatiiHi. This is my fir.,t 
Intn.duction to new country life. Probably it is yours also, as you 
appear to be moving. 1 hope you wiil not impute to me rudeness, 
but I will esteem it a great favor if you will duck your heads whde 
1 get into bed. " Every face di.^appeared, while he retired uniiarmed 
to nu'diUitv on his folly in having aivnkeued the dumbtri„y beauties 
by ids xpeeclt. 

The following sketch of Judge (.offinberry is taken from a work 
entitled " Representative Men of Cleveland 

•Mam.-^M. C.flinberrv, son of Andrew, ..r the good - ( ..uni," i.- a 
native of Mansfield, Ohio, having been t.orn in that town m 18l«. 
H.> studied law with his father, wiiowas then located at l.-rrysburg, 
in the western part of the state, and up<m his admission to the bar 
in 184J opened a law ottin- in connection with hisfath. r m Maumee 
f;it.y ile very .-arly obtained the puldic confidence, being ai)|)recia 
ted for his high peisonal and professional integrity, and givnig 
evidence of Cne abilities as a lawyer and advocate, he was elected 
an<l .served as I'rosecuting Attorney for Lucas county for severa 
years About the yt ar 1845, he removed to Hancock county, ami 
pureha.^.-d ami edited the Findlay Il.-rald, a whig paper .-t that day, 
and for about ten vears ].racticed his pn.fe-ssion with credit^and suc^ 
cess in th.- large circuit of Hancock, Allen, Putnam, \ an Wert and 
Wood couulies. ... 

•' In Ibn.'i, he removed to CMev. land, where he . uten d very readily 
into ;i guod'practice, and for six years confirmed th.- good reputation 
which he brought with him, and took high rank at th.- bar which 
numbered among its raeml>ers some of the best lawyers in the bUte. 



318 Judge James M. Coffinherry. 



'"■ In 1861, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 
and performed the duties of the office for his full term of five years, 
with credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the public, 
and an appreciative bar. The kind and genial traits, character- 
istic of Judge Coffinberry's mind, and his quiet manners u])on the 
bench made it always agreeable for both lavvyei-s and suitoj's doing 
business in his Court. His charges to the jury were always plain, 
clear and ibrcil)]e, and in the course of his judicial service, he deliv- 
ered some very able opinions, verbal and written which elicited the 
favorable consideration of the profession, and it is uiiderstood that no 
judicial opinion pronounced by him has ever been reversed on review 
by a higher court. The charge to the jury on the trial of Dr. John 
W. Hughes, for the murder of Tamzen Parsons, of Bedford, which 
took place in December, 1865, was acknowledged by the Cleveland 
bar to be one of the ablest ever delivered IVom the Cuyahoga bench. 

" Judge Cottin berry is remarkable for an apparently intuitive per- 
ception of legal truth, which gives to his argument at the bar, and 
as a lawyer and Judge, to his opinions, a tone of originality. He 
has a tine appreciation of the learning of the profession, and is 
regarded as among the best advocates of the Cleveland bar. 

"Judge Coffinberry has been successful in almost every underta- 
king, and has richly deserved it. '' 



[Transcript from the docket of John Amstutz, of Richland 
Township Allen County.J 

^ ^ ° / Criminal action of an assault in a menacing manner, 

Levi^Tope. S ""'"^ *»' !"'*"• 

This day appeared before me, John Amstutz, a Justice of the 
Peace of said county, Isaac N. Mark and made oath by an affidavit 
that Levi Tope assaulted and struck at him m a menacing manner. 
Therefore, the said Isaac N. Mark was the complainant, and said Levi 
Tope the defendant. A State warrant was therefoi'e issued forthwith 
against said Levi Tope, defendant, and the same was delivered by 
said Isaac N. Mark, complainant, to William Lewis, regular Consta- 
ble of Eichland township, in said county. There was also a sub- 
pcena, on request of said complainant, issued for State witnesses 
against Joseph A. Murray, I. McHenry, Charles E. Wilson, George 
Burget, John Fenton, Thomas Murray, Ira Townsend, Erastus 
Thompson and George Ramer. All said witnesses were commanded 
to appear forthwith, July 1, 1857. The said Levi Tope, defendant, 
appeared before me, at about half past nine o'clock, and requested 
me to issue a snbpoina against A. W. Rokatch, Ebenezer Russell, Sr., 
Wm. F. McDermott, Wm. Vance, Peter K. Mummer, Ralph Ewing, 
Samuel Whissler, John Fenton and Thomas Fenton. Said witnesses 



Odd Cases before tht; Oourts. 319 



were commanded to appear forthwith, and were intended by the 
defendant to dtjfend him before the Justice's Court. 

Defendant likewise made a motion if 1 would want an(»tlier Justice 
of the Peace assist me, in the j)roeeedin^s of the action, tiiat matter 
was therefore accepted by me. I therefore issued a notice to George 
\V. Gdbic, a J. P. in said t(j\vnshi)» o!" Kii-iiland. 

Complainant ;^ave iiimself and Erastus Thompson bails on a bond, 
taken and acknowledged bcfure me fur the costs of the action if the 
State sliiuild fail. Past 3 o'clock same day, witnesses appeared. 
!Said George W. Goble, my assistant, also appeared. Win. Lewis, 
Constal)K-, made his returns. I tiierefore made it known before we 
went into trial, to the complainant, and to all the presence, that I 
will have said Goble as my assistant, in every respect during tbe 
trial, stating the reasons such, that things appear to me to be tick- 
lish, and dubi(ius and critical; that I would only have to bear half 
of the burdens, if I should go either way. It was therefore accepted 
by the com{)lainai)t, and by the defendant, likewise before the pres- 
ence, that said Goble may be my assistant during the action in 
every respect. 

The trial therefore began liy asking Levi Tope, defendant, whether 
he was guilty or not guilty of the fact charged against him. He 
therefore pleaded " not guilty. " Therefore witnesses on behall of 
the fState, were duly sworn. Also, I. N. Mark, complainant, was 
sworn. I.N. Mark, comjdainant, Avas the lirst witness to testify; 
then George iiurget, Charles E. Wilson, and Erastus Thompson. 
The balance were not called to testify. Then the witnesses for de- 
fendant were sworn. John Fenton, Wm. Vance and Peter K. 
Mummer and another testitied. The balance were not called. Aft«:;r 
the testimony, allegation, examination and re-examination of the 
witnesses and proceedings on behalf of the State, and for the detend- 
ant, of the whole testimony, John Ewing, Esq., attorney of com- 
plainant, opened the pleading debate. Charles N. Lamison, Esq., 
pleaded for defendant, and Isaac N. Mark, complainant, closed the 
matter. 

After that, I, John Amstutz, and George W. Goble, my assistant, 
stepped off in a separate room, lt> consider on the matter, to render a 
judgment according to testimony. After the absence of about half 
an hour, we concluded that the complainant, like defendant, were 
alike, in our consideration, offence in fault. The complninani, we 
tinded him to be in the offence of provoking defendant ; and the 
defended, we tinded him to be in the utlence of assaulting the com- 
plainant. Therefore, our pure judgment would be to discharge de- 
fendant, and each of them would have to pay his own costs, or the 
half of the whole costs, provided, if they are satisfied, and confess 
on it — that is to say, as the law gave us no power to give that kind 
of a composing judgment, what we considered to be the purest judg- 
ment according to «iur consideration. We therefore considered that 
We will offer our pure judgment to the parties. Therefore I ottered 



820 Odd Cases hefore the Courts. 



the said judgment to the parties, and they vvouhl accept it, for the 
costs matter; but the complainant want that the defendant shall 
confess that he did wrong, nevertheless the complainant confessed 
before the whole crowd, that he was sorry towards the defendant. 
But defendant would not confess, and complainant would not with- 
draw his motion. Even I oftered him to suffer loss of my whole 
fees. We therefore considered that we will discharge the defendant, 
and the complainant will have to pay the costs. Therefoiv, in i-h' 
name 'di us both, I discharge the defendant, and complainant shall 
pay tho costs of the whole action, and this was our final judgment, 
and all what we could do according lo law in this case. But 1, for 
my part, will never consider it a pure judgment according to the 
whole transactions and circumstances between the complainant and 
defendant, as i)oth parties tresspassed the civil action of reasonable 
men, and they ought to pay f(jr it alike, as lessons. 

This transcript was given t<.> the complainant on his request. His 
intention is to reverse the judgment of this action ; but the trans- 
cript itself will show that I was trying to act in a way that might 
perhaps produce more than this coiuse. As a matter of course, I 
want to be satisfied as soon as possilde before I am requii-ed to issue 
execution ; and that by the County Clerk, and under seal. I do not 
care about my fees. I said once that I would suffer my fees, and 1 
say that yet, if I only can produce peace among my fellow-citizens. 
I therefore will not charge any fees to the complainant for this 
transcript; as he has already trouble enough. It shall be free gi-atis. 
Yours very respectfully, Johx Armstutz. 



When Judge Hitchcock held his first term of the Supreme Court 
in Tiffin, -Joshua Seney was Clerk of the Court. On the day fixed 
for the term, and when the Judge was expected, Mr. Keen and Mr. 
Seney were sitting in the Clerk's office ; and the latter, looking out 
of the window, observed a rough looking person approaching the 
office, and, taking him for the same one who had been annoying 
Mr. Keen for the sale of a lot of hay, observed : '' Now, as I am a 
sinner, if there isn't that same villainous old Irishman coming to 
torment us again about that hay." Soon the offensive person en- 
tered; the two occupants of the room continuing their conversa- 
tion, and neither suggesting a seat to the intruder, but expecting 
every moment to hear a re-opening from the Irishman of the pesti- 
ferous hay business. Mr. Seney became considerably embarrassed 
when the person approached his desk, and, very politely, but in the 
bearing and tone of voice of one clothed with authority, inquired : 
'• Is the docket of the Supreme Court in \\\\& office ? I would like 
to see it." 



Notes on tlie Old Bench and liar. 321 

Although habited in very similar clothing, and boaring upon bis 
head an almost exact duplicate of the old straw hat worn by the 
Irishman, the stran^'rr. it was now on (;loser scrutiny (juite clear, 
was iiMiic otbrr tliaii .Jud_t,'e Hitchcock himself. 



The late Judge Metcalf would relate the following: Under the 
ancient regime in good old Virginia, the mother of Slates and of 
Lawyt-rs, the fundamental law of that Commonwealth raised the 
senior justice of the peace of the county to the dignity of Sheriff. An 
old gentleman, who had passed through the several grades of justice 
and tiually attained to the Sireriffalty, determined to cast his lot 
across the border, on Ohio soil, and engage in law practice. With 
this view, and under the impression that by virtue of the official ex- 
perience above mentioned, he would be com])eteut to discharge the 
duties of an attorney before any Ohio Court, he eontklently demand- 
ed admission to the bar in the county he had selected for his resi- 
dence. He was advised, however, that under the Ohio system, as in 
Virginia, it would be necessary that he enter his name with a lawyer 
and pursue a course of studies for a term of years, when he could 
obtain a certificate from his preceptor, which would form the basis 
for his application to the Court for admission to the bar. Accord- 
ingly he entered his name, but under the unshaken conviction that 
he possessed a better knowledge of law than the average of Ohio at- 
torneys, he concluded that the only point with him was to put in the 
time, and that actual study was unnecessary. Tlie two years having 
expirt^d, he made application to the Court, and soon found himself 
before a Committe ot^' the bar. A few questions relating to elemen- 
tary j)rinciples of law were propos<'d to him, to none of which was he 
enabled to return satisfactory answers. The Virginian, finally, in 
much perplexity, observed : " I tell yuu what it is, gentlemen; / never 
did pretend to be much of a lilackstun lawyer, but you once take 
nie on the Virginny statoots, and you'll find me thar.'' He retinnl 
from the disgusting ordeal in high and diiiiiitiid dudifcon. 



In 1857anew Sht-rifl wa.s inducted into office in Allen county. He 
was much inclined to waggery, and plumed himself upon his success 
in the practical jokfs he wotild get off on his friends. Judge Robb, 
wlio habitually takes everything in good humor. miuI had been in .sev- 
eral instances his victim, devi.s»'(l the followinjr retaliatorv scheme : 

21 



322 Notes on the Old Bench and Bar. 

Seeking a conversation with the new officer, he informed him that it 
was the smallest number of Sheriffs who understood the true form of 
opening Court. " Now," said Eobb, ''while our Democrats may 
not like the English government and people altogether, it must 
nevertheless be admitted that we are indebted to our British ances- 
try for the fundamental principles of our admirable system of juris- 
prudence. The more closely we adhere to their venerated forms, 
the more imposing and sublime appears the administration of 
justice." The Sheriff concurred in this view, and the Judge then 
proceeded to drill the officer as to the true method of opening Court 
— and having learned to " speak his piece," Judge Metcalf and the 
bar and spectators were electrified next morning to hear the new 
Sheriff proclaim, in stentorian voice, in response to the order to open 
Court: 

" Oh yes ! oh yes ! ! oh yes ! ! ! All manner of persons having any- 
thing to do with this Court of nisi prius^ held in this county of 
Allen, will draw near and give attention. God save the Queen!" 



At the April term, in 1847, of the Mercer county Court, a hog 
case was tried before Judge Patrick C Goode. The arguments of 
counsel had been concluded, the charge of the Court had been made, 
and the case submitted to the jury within a few minutes of the regu- 
lar dinner hour, and they ordered into their room. The Court then 
adjourned until after dinner. Within a few minutes one of the 
jurymen, Cyrenius Elliott, (then a rough-hewn specimen, but withal 
a. young man possessing more than average ability and coolness,) 
entered the room of the hotel where the Judge was seated. The 
latter regarded Elliott with much surprise, and excitedly inquired: 
" What are you doing here ? Have the jury agreed ? 

"Jury agreed ?" hissed Elliott; "you must be a simpleton to ask 
the question. You must understand, Pat Goode, that I don't believe 
much in the divine right of Kings, or in the infallibility of Courts, 
when run by such men as yourself. Your riglit way was to have let 
us had our dinners before sending us into the jury-room — knowing, 
as you must, if you had good sense, that jurors have stomachs and 
bowels as well as judges and lawyers." 

The Judge, in a towering rage, threatened that his first business, 
immediately after the re-assembling of the Court, would be to visit 



NoUfi on ihf Old ll/iirji <iii<l lUtr. 323 



upon Elliott the severest penalties of the law ; to whioh the juryman, 
with much mwj froid responded, that it was not necessary for him to 
wait until aft.T the meeting of thi- Court to make a more flagrant 
Muggins of himself than he iiad already shown iiim.self to be. 

Upon re-opening Court, however, the Judge, rellecting that the 
law was inad.quate to punish, as he thought they deserved, the re- 
cusant jurors, nuide the disposition of the case as explained below in 
the Mercer County Standard : 

« Abraham Miller, of this place, happened to he one of the famous 
twelve, and when the Court had re-assembled in the atteraoon, the 
Jiidcrc, after censuring those of the jurymen who had appeared in 
the Court room, for their conduct, and after some hesitation as to 
what disposition to make of the case, ordered it to be recorded, 
which closed as follows: and the jury not beimj able to agree, dis- 
versed : and the case ivas continued to the next term, i he next term 
of court ordered " that the defendant go hence without dav and so 
the matter has slept until the last term of Court, when Mr. Miller 
was ushered into the jury box by the Sherift". whereupon Mr Leliloml 
who was attorney for the defendant in the case in 184., objected to 
him on the ground that a man couldn't serve as a .pirvman on two 
cases at the same time. Judge Macken^ci.- intimated that a man 
who was unable tio make up his mind in iwcnfif-four i/ears was hard- 
Iv competent to sit on a jurv; however, he was permitted to remain 
till the linal disposition of the case; but the fact still remains that 
the jury which went out in 1847, has never returned into court. 



And at this point, in these random noU'S, as illustrative, in some 
degree, of the judicial practice in primitive times, we cross the Ohio 
border into the Indiana portion of the Maumee Valley, and relate 
the following on the authority of Judge John Morris, now of Fort 
Wayne— authority that may be accepted as un(iuestionable : 

Arial Walden. a most excellent man, noted for his intense venna- 
tion of Henry Clav, was among the first settlers of DeKalb county. 
His education Wivs limited, but he could read, and had read every- 
thing within his reach that in any way related to Clay. To him 
Clay"was in fact the great embodiment, not alone of Whig principles, 
but' of the Constitution and everything valuable in our institutions. 
Waldeu had memoriz.'d many of Clay's speeches, which had inspired 
him with a deep reverence for the Constitution. H." read and re-read 
the sacred instrument, and always, as he declared, with increasin<r in- 
terest and devotion. He regarded the expunging resolutions and the 



324 JVotes on the Old Bench and Bar. 

drawing of the black lines across the Senate journal as a wanton 
and outragiious violation of the Constitution. The pet banks of 
Jackson and the sub-treasury system of Van Buren, he looked upon 
as menacing the very existence of our free institutions. If his best 
and most cherished friend spoke lightly or irreverently of the Con- 
stitution, he dropped him at once, regarding him as the enemy 
of his country, and but little better than Jackson, Calhoun or 
Benton. 

Walden was, nevertheless, a kind-hearted, amiable man, and gen- 
erally colerant of the opinions of others. He would listen patiently 
to any criticism of his views upon religion or any other subject, save 
that of Clay and the Constitution. Upon these two subjects there 
was no room for debate. The Constitution was just what Clay said 
it was; the expunging resolutions, the pet banks, the sub-treasury 
were clear violations of it. Jackson, Calhoun and Benton and their 
associates were traitors. His devotion to Clay was looked upon as a 
sort of infatuation, and did not at all affect his popularity among his 
neighbors, though they were generally opposed to Clay. Finally, 
Walden was taken up by the people of the county and elected to the 
office of Associate Judge. He was an honest and zealous, if not a re- 
markably intelligent Judge. Lawyers soon found out that with 
Walden on the bench, the Constitution was the " supreme law of 
the land," and that he who could appeal to it, was sure to win. 

In 18-iO, there was, among a half dozen causes pending in DeKalb 
county, a slander suit which attracted unusual interest. The pre- 
siding Judge, who was always a lawyer, had gone home ; the associ- 
ate Judges, (two of them.) who were not lawyers, were holding the 
Court. The slander suit came on for trial. One of the best lawyers 
of the State appeared as counsel for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Coombs 
and Colerick, of P'ort Wayne, for the defendant. 

The plaintiff's case was clearly made out, and the defence, so far as 
the evidence was concerned, was a complete failure. The counsel 
for the plaintiff f'xpected a verdict for a reasonable amount of damages 
at least. But his client was personally unpopular, and, as sometimes 
happens, especially in a new country, the jury, without regard to the 
evidence, found for the defendant. All were surprised, and none 
more so than the defendant and his counsel. 

Mr. H , counsel for the plaintiff, as soon as the verdict was 

read, moved the court for a new trial. He demonstrated the injus- 



Notes on the OIJ Bfnrh and Bar. 325 



tice of the verdict, and somewhat confidently and imperiously de- 
manded tliiit it be 8tt aside at once. 

The counsel for the defendant whispered a few words of consul- 
tation, wlion Mr. Coombs, assuming an unusual dt-gree of gravity, 
arose and addressed the court substantially as follows : 

"May it please your Honors : The counsel for the plaintiff is a 
gentleman of mach learning and al)ility, for whom we hav(^ all here- 
tofore entertained the greatest respect. He is familiar with the Con- 
stitution, that great palladium of human rights, and to it he owes 
the right to appear before this Honorable Court. Imagine, there- 
fore, my surprise to find him standing before this tribunal and 
audaciously demanding that your Honors shall deliberately vinJnte 
the following provision of the Constitution : 

" 'The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.' 

"To ask this Court to lay its hand ruthlessly upon the verdict of 
a jury, is to treat with contempt the people, the court, and above all 
the Constitution itself. I k.iow your Honors understand the Con 
stitution ; I know how profoundly you reverence it, and I cannot 
but hope that you will severely rebuke the imprudent zeal of the 
counsel, and stop at once the discussion of apropo^iition which assails 
our glorious Constitution in its most vital part. I'll not impugn the 
intelligence and patriotism of this tribunal by a word of argument 
upon such a proposition. Hrre the Constitution is safe, jind, I trust, 
supreme. Shall not this jury trial remain inviolate?'' 

This speech profoundly impressed the Court. There was a 
moment's silence, and then: 

Mr. H. — " May it please your Hon — " 

Judge Walden — "Sit down, sir; sit down. The Constitution is 
the supreme law of the land. It xkall be maintained." 

Mr. II.—" But—" 

J. W. — " Sit down, sir. We will not hear you. True, the jury over- 
looked or forgot the evidence — I don't care which — but the Consti- 
tution plainly says that trial by jury shall remain inviolate. It 
mnst and shall be preserved. This trial must be as perpetual as the 
Constitution. We will nor hear you. Thn Court advise the learned 
counsel to go home and read Henry Clay on the Constitution." 

The counsel left the room at once, and though a supporter of 
Henry Clay, just then he would have been glad the statesman had 
never been born. 



326 Notes on the Old Bench and Ba/r. 

Here it may not be out of place to recur to the early mem- 
bers of the old Fort Wayne bar. Those who quitted their jur- 
isdiction, and crossed the border to practice in the northwestern 
counties of Ohio, have been already named in the reminiscences of 
Hon. T. W. Powell, of Delaware, Ohio ; but more ample testimony 
regarding the early lawyers of Fort Wayne could be furnished by the 
veteran member of the Northeastern Indiana bar, David A. Colerick> 
Esq., who removed from Lancaster, Ohio, to Fort Wayne in 1829, forty- 
three years ago. The only member of the bar then residing at Fort 
Wayne was Henry Cooper ; and now Mr. Cooper being dead, Mr- 
Colerick is the only survivor of the bar of that date. Subsequently* 
about 1831, the bar was reinforced by the addition of Thos. W. Ewing, 
(a man, says Mr. Colerick, of rare intellect and culture, and eminent 
as a judge and a lawyer.) The next lawyer was Charles Johnson, 
who opened an office in Fort Wayne in 1834 — a gentleman faithful 
to his clients, and a good lawyer. His death occurred in 1845 — re- 
sulting from exposure on his return home from a professional tour at 
Bluffton. Lucien P. Ferry was about this date admitted to the bar 
at Fort Wayne, having studied with Mr. Cooper. His death was 
caused by a similar exposure, and occurred on the same night that 
carried off Mr. Johnson. 

These are all the reminiscences, furnished by Mr. Colerick — by rea- 
son of the pressure of business, advanced age, and ill health — regard- 
ing the " old time " lawyers of Fort Wayne. 



Oue of the early lawyers of Findlay was John H. Morrison, a 
character well adapted to the people and the times in which be lived. 
His right arm had returned to its native dust some half century 
before the main trunk perished. His natural gifts were good, and a 
noble heart was ever lodged on the left side of his vest. Judge M. 
C. Whiteley recalls the following of him : 

During a term of Court at Findlay, he had a case in which he 
manifested much interest, and after the evidence had closed he feJt 
that the cause of his client was lost, and opened his address to the 
Court and jury with the following declaration : '"' May it please the 
Court: By the perjury of witnesses, the ignorance of the jury, and 
the corruption of the Court, I expect to be beaten in this case." 
The Judge (Patrick :G. G-oode) turned to the counsel and inquired: 



iToUs on the Old Bench and Bar. 32^ 



^'What is that you say, Mr. Morrison ?" The latter promptly re- 
plied : " That's all 1 have to say on that point," and proceeded in 
his remarks to the stupid jury. 

Judge Whiteley also recalls the following r('niarka1)le replevin 
case : 

A husband and wife whose domestic wrangles had led to a separa- 
tion, were the parents of a single chiM, the exclusive possession of 
which was sought bv both husl)and and wife. The mother, however, 
had maintained her charge of it. The father api)lied to Morrison 
for counsel, and was advised to get out a writ of replevin ! The 
proceedings had readied the point when it became necessary for the 
Sherifif to summon two persons to appraise the " property." These 
first could not fix a value upon the child ; when they were dismissed 
and yet others summoned, with the same result; and while a third 
effort to establish a value was pending, a brother of the mother seized 
the child, and placing it before him on his horse, pushed the animal 
forward upon his highest rate of speed, and soon was at a distance 
that would render successful pursuit impossible. 

« There !" exclaimed Morrison, " there goes my case ! I could re- 
plevin the devil out of hell, if I could only get appraisers to put a 
value upon him." 

During the judicial service of Judge Goode, three new associates, 
by reason of death, resignation, and expiration of term of office, ap- 
peared upon the bench. They were men of very fixed notions of 
morality, but all strangers to Mr. Morrison. In those days tavern 
licenses were granted by the Court to applicants whose moral char- 
acter and general fitness to keep a public house, were endorsed by 
two responsible witnesses. A man in ill repute made application to 
the Court for license, and procured two witnesses, boon companions 
of himself, to testify to the virtuous character of the applicant. The 
Court considered the proposition, and Judge Goode announced that 
the application was refused. Mr. Morrison, much excited and agi- 
tated, rose and addressed one of the Associates: " Jndge Ewing, is 
that .yowr decision ?" Judge E. responded affirmatively. ''And 
Judge Price, do you concur in that decision ?" " Yes." And Mor- 
rison was about putting the same question to the third Associate, 
when he was interrupted by Judge Goode with the question :^ " Mr. 
Morrison, what are you about ? What are you doing ?" -Why, I'm 
polling the Court, your honor." 



328 Notes on the Old Bench and Bar. 

Hon. William Mungen solemnly asseverates as follows : 
When au early term of the Supreme Court was held at Findlay, 
Judge Wood presiding, (perhaps his first visit to Hancock) he, in 
company with John C. Spink, Andrew Coffinberry, (better known 
as the old Count) Jude Hall, J. M. May and some others, at the 
close of the District Court left Findlay on horseback, for Kalida or 
Defiance. They had saddle-bags, in which about all the law books 
in this part of the country were packed and carried around with the 
Court in its migrations. After getting down the river some twelve 
miles, they called a halt at a house to get some water to wash down 
their "drink." They hitched their horses to the fence and went into 
the yard. About the time the Court was washing down his drink, 
one of the horses reached his nose over the fence, and upset a bee- 
hive, which stood just inside. The scene which followed was a live- 
ly one. The horses struck for the " tall timber," and soon the saddle 
bags were emptied of their contents. The party followrd in pur- 
suit of the fugitive horses, which they succeeded, after much delay 
and racing through the woods, fuming and fretting, in recovering ; 
though the " library," saddle-bags, bridles, &c., had suffered consid- 
erable damage. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE fAXAL SYSTEMS OF OHIO AXD IXDIAXA. 

In any true history of the early settlement and material progress 
of the Maumee Valley, the two important Canals — the Wabash 
and Erie, and the Miami and Erie — which unite near Defiance, 
and thence reach the Maumee Bay by a common trunk — must fill 
an important page. However vnhia^ile m:iy be the railroad*, built 
long afterwards, it is sull true that the canals had prepared the way, 
settled the country, and laid the foundation of its cities, of which 
Toledo at the mouth, and Furt Wayne at the source of the river, 
are the chief. 

In 1816 Hon. Ethan Allen Brown, of Cincinnati, had a corres- 
jxtndence with DeWitt Clinton — the latter being then a*^ the li-ad of 
the Board of Canal Commissioners of the State ul ^.\.»\ i'ork, upon 
the subject of the proposed canal connecting the waters of Lake 
Erie with those of the Hudson River. 

In February. 1S"^0, an act was passed by the Ohio Legislature, ajv 
pointing three Commissioners Uj locate a route for a navigable 
canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and providing for its 
location through the Congress lauds, then laU-Iy purchased of the 
Indians. The act also proposed to ask of Congress a grant of one 
or two millions t»f acres of land. This act was not thoroughly en- 
forcetl, by reason of some failure to appoint Commissioners, or to 
have a suitable survey made. 

Governor Brown, in his inaugural address, l-4th December, 1818, 
thus called attention to the subject of public improvenn nts : 

" If we would raise the character of our Stat<^ by increasing in- 
dustry and our res«:»nroes, it seems n«."cessary to improve the internal 
communications, and open a cheaper way to market for the surplus 
produce of a large portion of our fertile country." 

Gov. Brown also called the attention of the Legislature to the 
subject of canals, at the tw.> or rhr»^e succeeding sessions. 



330 Tlie Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 

The subject of a canal did not, however, receive attention at the 
hands of the Ohio Legislature until at the session of 1821 and 1822, 
when, on the 3d day of January, of the last named year, Micajah T. 
Williams, of Cincinnati, a Kepresentative from Hamilton county, 
and chairman of a committee to whom the subject had been referred, 
made the first report, discussing elaborately this question of connect- 
ing by canal, the Ohio River with Lake Erie. A sentence or two 
from this statesman-like document, will afford some adequate idea of 
the condition of the State and its industries at that period, and of 
the progress made in efforts to secure means of artificial transport: 

'*' It is a well-established fact that man has not yet devised a mode 
of conveyance so safe, easy and cheap, as canal navigation ; and al- 
though the advantage of easy and expeditious transportation is not 
likely to be perceived when prices are high and trade most profita- 
ble, yet the truth is familiar to every person of observation, that the 
enormous expense of land carriage has frequently consumed nearly, 
and sometimes quite, the whole price of provisions at the place of 
embarkation for a distant market. This is essentially the case in 
relation to all commodities of a cheap and bulky nature, most of ^ 
which will not bear a land transportation many miles, and conse- 
quently are rendered of no value to the farmer, and are suffered to i 
waste on his hands. The merchant who engages in the exportation \ 
of the produce of the country, finding it a losing commerce, aban- ' 
dons it, or is ruined ; and crops in the finest and most productive \ 
parts of the State, are left to waste on the fields that produce them, : 
' or be distilled to poison and brutalize society.' " 

The valuable report of Mr. Williams concluded with the introduc- \ 
tion of a bill authorizing an examination into the practicability of '•■ 
connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio River by a canal, which was . 
read the first time, and fiually passed January 31, 1822. The 2d '; 
section appointed Benjamin Tappan, Afred Kelley, Thomas Worth- 
ington, Ethan Allen Brown, Jeremiah Morrow, Isaac Minor and 
Ebenezer Buckingham, Jr., commissioners, " whose duty it shall be 
to cause such examinations, surveys and estimates to be made by the 
engineer as aforesaid, as may be necessary to ascertain the practica- 
bility of connecting Like Erie with the Ohio River, by a canal 
through the following routes, viz : from Sandusky Bay to the Ohio . 
River; from the Ohio River to the Maumee River; from the lake to ■ 
the river aforesaid, by the sources of the Cuyahoga and Black rivers ^ 



The Canal Systetns of Ohio avd hidiann. 331 



nnd the Muskingum River; and from the Lake by the sources of the 
Grand and Mahoning rivers to the Ohio River." 

At this period the population of the Maumoe Valley was so sparse 
as to prevent the exercise of an influonce adequate to compete for 
the prize with other routes — luivticularly with those of the Sandusky 
Bay and Cuyahoga River — and her claims were hardly considered. 
Clfveland was finally selected, over Sandusky City, as the lake ter- 
minus of the Ohio Canal. Between two of the gentlemen repre- 
senting interests engaged in the bitter strife for the lake terminus, 
which arose out of these surveys, the late Ehitherus Cooke, of San- 
dusky City and the late Alfred Kelley, then of Cleveland, personal 
alienations were engendered, that continued throughout the lives of 
these eminent and useful citizens. The Maumee Bay, however, was 
from the first, looked upon as the proper lake terminus of the Miami 
and Maumee Canal, from Cincinnati to the lake, when that should 
be built. 

On the 27th of January, 1823, an act was passed, " supplemen- 
tary to the act authorizing an examination into the practicability of 
connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio River, by a canal." The 2d 
section of tliis act appointed Micajah T. Williams, of the county 
of Hamilton, a Canal Commissioner, in plac of J r> iiii.i'u Morrow, 
resigned. Under the 5th section of the act, the commissioners were 
" authorized and required to take the necessary measures to ascer- 
tain whether loans can be obtained on the credit of the State, for the 
)Mirj>ose of aiding the State in the construction of a canal, from 
Lake P]rie to the Ohio river; and if so, on what terms and condi- 
tinns ;'' thus, in the incipient stages of tlie pulilic iniiiMvements, im- 
posinsr upon this Board, the duties of Fund as well as Cynal Com- 
missioners. 

In a letter addressed to Micajah T. Williams, Esq., one of the 
Ohio Canal Commissioners, by DeWitt Clinton (iovernor of New 
York, on the 8th of November, 1823, in response to inquiries from 
^^^. Williams, he thus nfers to the project of constructing a canal 
iVom the r^ake to the Ohio River: *'The Stiite of Ohio, from the 
fertility of its soil, thp benignity of its climate, and its geographical 
position, must always conlain a dense population, and the jtnxlucts 
and CMnsumj)tions of its inhabitants must fon-ver form a lucrative 
and extensive inland trade, exciting the powers of productive indus- 
try, and communic'.ting aliment and energy to external commerce- 



332 Ths Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 

But -when wo coiisiiler that this caiinl will opon a way to the groat 
rivors that fall \wXo tho ^Mississijijii: that it will bo felt, not only in 
the imnionso valley of that river, but as far west as the Rocky 
Mountains and the borders of ]\Iexioo; and that it will comnuini- 
cato tvith our great inland seas, and their tributary rivers: with the 
ocean in various routes, and with the most prinluctive regions of 
America, there can be no (|nostion respeciing the blessings that it 
Avill produce, tho riches it will create, and the energies it will call 
into activity." 

During the season of 1S24, a careful and continuous survey of what 
is now the Miami and the Wabash ti' Erie t\anal. was made from the 
Ohio River' at Cincinnati, through the Miami Valley to theMaumee 
Kivor, at Petiance. and thence along the northwest hank of the 
Ixiver to the head of the Bay; and an estimate of the cost of the 
Canal on this route was roportrd to the Legislature of Ohio at the 
session of 18"-34-*-2o. This survey was under the direction of M. T. 
Williams, Esq.. then, and iov ten years afterwards. Acting Commis- 
sioner and a leading member of the State Board of Canal Commis- 
sioners. The engineer corps was headed by Samuel Forror, Esq., 
who still survives, and, at the age of four score years, continues in 
professional charge of the Miami Canal. Besides Mr. Forrer, three 
of the engineers engaged in this tirst survey, forty-eight years ago, are 
still living, to- wit: J. L. Williams, Francis Cleveland and Richard 
Homo. 

One half or more of the route of this survey was tlirough an un- 
broken forest. From Fort St. Mary's, where the town oi that name 
now stands, to the Auglaize River, some forty miles, not a house 
nor a trace of civilization existed. 

On tho southwest bank of this river was found a squatter by the 
name of Thomas MeClish. with a clearing of about one acre. Wliilo 
the engineer party were at this encampnunt, the second otiicer, 
in the corps, Thos. J. Mathews, fiither of the Hon. Stanley Mathews, 
of Cincinnati, was overtaken by a special me'?senger. who had 
made his way throuijh the Avilderness, with notice of his appoint- 
ment as Professor of Mathematics in the Transylvania University 
at Lexington, Ky. 

A few miles further down the Auglaize the party encani]ied near 
an Indian village, Oquanoxa's town, (now Charloo.) of tho Ottawa 
tribe, at that time nnniorons in tho lower section of the Mauraee 



7 he Ccmal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. '6\\\\ 



\'allfy. It WHS a tinir of tliivatcning war wi(l> the Miamis, then 
dttminunt uiul powfiTul on the eources of tlu- Manmce River and 
U|)per Wabash. The Ottawa braves and warriors were at Fort 
Wayne to take vengeance for the loss of an Ottawa Indian, plain 
by a Miami. A nionfy rompt-'nFiition, however, (or Imlian ^'oods) 
was agrceil upon in lieu of blood, jirobably through tlic influence of 
the Indian Agent at Fort Wayne, the Hon. John Ti|»ti»n, afterwards 
U. S. Si'uator from Indiana — an ear'y iiistiinec in which arbitration 
proved better than war. From this Indian village the ))arty pro- 
ceeded to Fort I)< linnce, where they found the block houses yet stand- 
ing, on the extreme point, at the junction of tlie two rivers. 

liut, returning to the legitimate history of the Canal survey, it 
should be recorded that from one of tlie encampments in the depths 
of the forty miles forest south of the Auglaize River, Mr. Williams, 
the Acting Commissi^ nei", left the ])arty, and, with prop<'r guides, 
explored in advance the route to the foot ot (he ra])iils. Taking 
there a small boat, he sounded carefully the (le])th of the water in 
the River from the foot of the Maumee rapids to Turtle Island, so 
called, oflTthe north cape of the Bay. His report of these soundings, 
as communicated to the engineer on his return to camp, and after- 
wards stated in his official report to the Legislature, clearly indicated 
the mouth of Swan Creek, now the site of Toledo, as the point 
where tlie immense Commerce in the future to seek Lake Erie 
would be transferred from canal boats to Lake vessels. 

Hut while the survey on the Cincinnati branch of the Maumee 
Canal was a few years in advance of the explorations of the Wabash 
line, yet it is historically true that the Indi.ina work, known as the 
Wabash & Erie (-'anal, was first to seek eHieiently i-iid to obtain 
• means for its construction through the Ivnelicent and judicious 
action of the Congress of the Ignited States in granting alternate 
sections of land, through this va.'-t unsettled region of northern 
Indiana and norlhwej^tt rn Ohio. 

In tin.' treaty id" \^'i.K\^ between the Miami tril.e u{ lMilian.s and thi- 
GovernnKntof the United States, through its C< i..missioi.er6, Ixwis 
Caes, John Tijiton, and Janus H. Ray, by which the Indian tiile in 
all norlh(ast<rn Indiana, with the exception of certain reserves, was 
extinguislud, the idea (d the Wabash and Erie Canal found .sub- 
stantial recognition. The treaty contained the fidlowin;^ clause: 

" And it is agivt-d that the Stale of Indiana iiniy la^ uul a cuuul 



334 The Canal Systems of Ohio anfid Indiana. 

or road through any of these reservations, and for the use of a 
canal, six chains along the same are hereby appropriated." 

The next step in the progress of events was the procurement, 
chiefly through the agency of the members of Congress from Indi- 
ana, of a survey of the Canal by a corps of United States Topograph- 
ical Engineers, A corps of Engineers, under the command of Col. 
James Shriver. was detailed for this survey, by order of the War De- 
partment. After a tedious journey through the wilderness, the sur- 
vey was commenced at Fort Wayne in May or June, 1826. But 
little progress had been made, when the whole party was prostrated 
by sickness, and Colonel Shriver soon afterwards died ia the Old 
Fort. He was succeeded in command by Colonel Asa Moore, his 
assistant, under whose direction the survey was continued during 
1826 and 1827, down the Wabash to the mouth of Tippecanoe, then 
considered the head of navigation. The work was continued along 
the Maumee in 1827 and 1828, until Colonel Moore also fell a vic- 
tim to disease, so prevalent at that time in these forest-covered val- 
leys, dying in his tent at the head of the Maumee Rapids, on the 
4th of October, 1828. This survey was completed to the Maumee 
Bay by Colonel Howard Stansbury, who, from the beginning, had 
been of the party. 

Following this survey was " an act to grant a certain quantity of 
land to the State of Indiana, for the purpose of aiding said State in 
opening a Canal to connect the waters of the Wabash River with 
those of Lake Erie." 

By this act, approved March 2, 1827, Congress granted to the 
State of Indiana, one-half of five miles in width of the public lands 
on each side of the proposed canal, from Lake Erie to the navigable 
waters of the Wabash river, amounting to 3,200 acres for each mile. 
The Indiana terminus of the Canal, and therefore of the grant, was 
at that time established at the mouth of Tippecanoe river, a distance 
from the Lake of 213 miles. At the session of the Indiana Legis- 
lature of 1827-28, thegraut was accepted by the State, and a Board 
of Canal Commissioners appointed, consisting of three members, to- 
wit : Samuel Hanna, David Burr, and Robert John. 

The Indiana Commissioners were directed to re-survey the Sum- 
mit division in 1828 ; bat sickness again interrupted the progress of 
the work. Mr. Smythe, the engineer, accomplished no more, after 
arriving at Fort Wayne, than to gauge the river and adjust his in- 



The Canal Systems of Ohio and Indio/na. H35 

strumcnts, when he was laid aside for the season. In this emergency 
the Commissioners tlieniselves, thon;^h not engineers, took hold of 
the instruments, and with the aid of a competent surveyor, com- 
pleted the survey of the division of thirty-two miles. 

An act " to aid the State of Ohio in extending the Miami Canal 
from Dayton to T.ake Erie, and to grant a quantity of land to said 
State to aid in the construction of the canals authorized hy law," tStc, 
was passed by Congress and approved May 24, 1828. 

The first section granted to Ohio for the purpose of aiding said 
State in extending the Miami Canal from Dayton to Lake Erie, 
by the Maumee route, a quantity of land equal to one-half of 
five sections in width on each side of said canal, between Dayton 
and the Maumee river, at the mouth of the Auglaize, so far as the 
same shall be located through the public land, and reserving each 
alternate section ot the lands unsold, to the United States, to be se- 
lected by the Commissioners of the General Land Office, under the 
direction of the President of the United States; and which land, so 
reserved to the LTnited States, shall not be sold for less than two 
dollars and fifty cents per acre. The said land, hereby granted to 
the State of Ohio, to be subject to the disposal of the Legislature of 
said State for the purpose aforesaid and no other. This section also 
required that the extension of the said Miami canal shall be com- 
menced within five years, and com])leted within twenty years, or the 
State shall be bound to pay to the I'nited States the amount of any 
lands previously sold ; and that the title to purchasers under the 
State shall be valid. 

Section 4 enacted that " the State of Indiana be, and hereby is, 
authorized to convey and relinquish to the State of Ohio, upon such 
terms as may be agreed upon by said States, all the rights and in- 
terest granted to the State of Indiana to any lands within the limits 
of the State of Ohio, by an act entitled, " An act to grant a certain 
quantity of land to the State of Indiana, for the purpose of aiding 
said State in opening a canal, to connect the waters of Wabash 
river with those of Lake Erie,"' approved on the iL'd of March. A. 
D., 1H27 ; " the Slate of Ohio to hold said lands on the same con- 
ditions upon which it was granted to the State of Indiana by the 
act aforesaid."" 

The munificent grant to Indiana of the public domain before al- 
luded to, of March 2d, \bH, waa the first of any magnitude made 



336 The Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 

for the promotion of public works, and may therefore be viewed as 
initiating the policy afterwards so extensively adopted of granting 
alternate sections for these objects. 

Under the section above quoted, Commissioners with plenipoten- 
tiary powers, were appointed by both States : W. Tillman, of 
Zanesville, on the part of Ohio, and Jeremiah Sullivan, of Madison, 
on the part of Indiana, by whom a compact was agreed upon in Oct. 
1829, which, after some delay on the part of Ohio, was ratified by 
both States — Indiana agreeing to surrender to Ohio the land within 
her territory, and Ohio stipulating to construct the canal, and guar- 
anteeing its use to the citizens of Indiana on the same terms as her 
own citizens. From this period, the canal, though one work as re- 
spects its commercial interests and bearings, became separated into 
two divisions, as regards its finances, construction and management. 
It is to the Indiana division that the following historical description 
chiefly refers : 

The portion of this land-grant, falling to Indiana, east of Tippe- 
canoe river, amounted to 349,261 acres as the selections were finally 
made and approved. 

During the year 18.30, the middle or summit division of thirty- 
two miles, was located and prepared for contract by Joseph Ridg- 
way, Jr., of Columbus, Ohio, an engineer of experience and skill, 
employed for that purpose by the Canal Commissioners. The actual 
construction of the work was not authorized until the session of 
1831-32, when a law was passed empowering the Board of Commis- 
sioners to place the middle division under contract, and creating a 
Board of Fund Commissioners, and authorizing a loan of $200,000 
on the credit of the State. Jeremiah Sullivan, Nicholas McCarty 
and William C. Linton formed the first Board of Fund Commis- 
sioners, whose organization took place at Indianapolis on the 28th 
of February, ] 832. The Board reported the entire Canal Fund at 
that date to be $28,0.51 received from the sale of Canal lands. Jesse 
L. Williams was appointed chief engineer of the Canal in the spring 
of 1832. 

The formal breaking of ground on this great work, with such cer- 
emonies as could be arranged in an uninhabited region, where the 
chief and indeed only village contained but 400 people, was per- 
formed at Fort Wayne, on the 1st of March, 1832. just in time to 
save the land grant under the limitation of the act of Congress In 



TJie Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 337 

June, following, under the direction of the Board of Canal Commis- 
sioners, then consisting of David Burr, Samuel Lewis and Jordon 
Vigus, the first letting of contracts was made, embracing Borac 
fifteen miles, and in the fall of the same year, four miles in addition, 
including the St. Joseph Feeder Dam, were placed under the con- 
tract. L'p to the close of 18o'2 the Comniiesiontrs report work per- 
formed by the contractors only to the value ot$J-,180, The remain- 
ing thirteen miles of the middle or summit division, thirty-two 
miles long, was let in May, 1833. This division, uniting the sources 
of the Waba.-h with the waters of the lake, was completed in 1835 
and on the 4th of July of that year, the first boat passed through it. 
It was the beginning of canal navigation in all the vast region of 
country lying northwest of Cleveland and Dayton, and was appro- 
priately celebrated at Fort Wayne in the presence of an assemblage 
of citizens of Indiana as numerous as could be gathered in that 
sparsely settled «listrict, to whom an appropriate and able oration 
was delivered by Hugh McCulloch, late Secretary of the Treasury ot 
the United States. 

It may serve to illustrate the rigid and judicious economy of that 
primitive period, as it also shows the greater relative value of 
money compared with other commodities for which it was exchanged, 
before the discovery of California gold, to state that this division of 
Canal, with a fair proportion of lockage and an important dam, cost 
but S7,177 per mile, though constructed in a wilderness where sup- 
plies ot provisions could V)e obtained only from the distant settle- 
ments on the Upper Miami through the limited and tedious pirogue 
navigation of the St. Mary s river. 

The Canal was constructed literally through and amongst Indian 
villages and wigwams. At the village of White Raccoon, a Miami 
chief, the log cabin of Cha-pine, the orator of the tribe, was foun<l 
to stand exactly on the line of the Canal and was necessarily moved 
and rebuilt at the expense of the canal tund, and to the great disguai 
of the Indian. 

Probably no one contributed more to the success of the canal 
policy, during the first and trying years of its progress, than the late 
Samuel Hanna, ot Fort Wayne. From 1828 to 1836, he was suc- 
cessively Canal Commissioner and Fund Commissioner, besides ser- 
ving three years in the Stale Senate and one year in the House, re- 
presenting as Senator, perhaps one-third thi- entire area ot the State, 

22 



338 The Carnal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 

and filling in each body, for a part of the time, the post of chair- 
man of the Canal Committee. In these ofiicial stations he evinced 
the same judgment, tact and force of character, which, near a quarter 
of a century afterwards, enabled him to render important service to 
the northern section of Indiana, in the enterprise of completing, 
under financial difficulties such as would have discouraged men less 
courageous in assuming pecuniary responsibilities, that portion of 
the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway lying west of 
Crestline. 

In the summer of 1837 the division between Fort Wayne and the 
Ohio State line was placed under contract. These several sub-divis- 
ions were successively opened for navigation until a water commu- 
nication was perfected, in 1840, between the east line of Indiana and 
Lafayette, the head of steamboat navigation of the Wabash river. 

The State of Ohio, realizing less than Indiana the want of this 
channel of navigation, from the spai'se settlement of her northwest- 
ern territory, was more tardy in providing for its construction. It 
was only after repeated and urgent soliciations from the authorities 
of Indiana, by legislative resolves and through the appointment, 
finally, of a special commission, that the Ohio Legislature was in- 
duced to commence the construction of her division. 

The people of Indiana, in 1839 and 1840, gave evidence of a dis- 
appointed feeling regarding the tardiness of the Ohio authorities in 
prosecuting their portion of the work, and a joint resolution, ap- 
proved January 22d, 1840, made it the duty of the Chief Engineer? 
J. L. Williams, " to proceed immediately to the seat of government 
of the State of Ohio, and in a respectful manner to urge upon the 
consideration of the members of the Legislature of that State the 
necessity of a speedy completion of the Wabash & Erie Cunal, from 
the Indiana State line to the Maumee Bay, in compliance with the 
compacts heretofore made between the two States in relation thereto." 

Mr. Williams, thus accredited, hastened to Columbus; on the 
30th he addressed a forcible and elaborate letter to Governor Shan- 
non, which, on the day following, January 31st, was, together with 
the joint resolution of the Indiana Legislature above mentioned, 
communicated by Governor Shannon, in a special message to the 
General Assembly. 

h\ his letter to the Governor, and referring to the magnitude of 
the enterprise, and the extensive interests dependent upon its early 
completion, he thus refers to the capabilities of the Wabash valley 



Thf Canal Si/fitetns of Ohio and /ruliana. 33y 

for furnishing transportation. Ity ni<'nn« of its production and con- 
sumption : 

" For this tnule thi' W'lihas'i &. Erii- Canal will form \\w natural, 
and, in fact, the only channel, so I'ar as a Nortiiurn market may he 
sought. From the tirdt setMenii'iit of the V^alley, itn citizens have 
anticipated the ujiening of this Canal at no remote period, for whicl^ 
expectation ihey, perhaps, had sntticieiit grounds in the donation of 
land tor this i)l)ject, and the acceptance of this donation, with all its 
re(iuirements, hy the States. The}' have neither sought nor desired 
any otiier connection with Lake Erie, but on the contrary have loca- 
ted and constructed their common roatls, to say nothing of their 
lateral canals and railroads, some of which have been comme'..ced, 
so as to concentrate their trade on this Canal, as the main trunk. 
From this circnmstance, as well as from the directness ol the rout«', 
the Wahasii & Erie Canal wUI not be subjecu-d to comjH'tition with 
other estaldished channels of trade, as is often the case on tiie open- 
ing of a new work, but from the lirst will comniiiml the undivided 
commerce and int«'rcourse bilween the Wabash counirv and the 
Northern markets. 

"The district lor which this Canal will form the main channel of 
trade, may be describeil as extending from the State line, as far 
down the Waliasl: as the Grand Jia])ids, a distance of three hundn-d 
miles. 'I'lu' boundaries of the district on the fiouth and south-east 
may be detined by a line pursuing generally the valley of the west 
fork of White River, to the east line of the State, embracing nearly 
one third of the surface between the Wabash and the Ohio Kiver; 
and on the north and wi-st by a line diverging from the Grand Rap- 
ids of the Wabash, and extending about one-third .he distance to 
the Illinois Riv»'r on the west, and Lake Michigan on the north. 
The limits of this district, it will be jjerceived, are marked «)nt with 
due reference to the inthience of the (Jliio navigation on the south, 
and of the Illinois River and Lake Michigan on the west and north, 
as rival channels of commerce. The district thus described contains 
a surface equal to thirty-eigiit counties in Lidiana, and iiearlv nine 
counties in Illinois, including an average area of •^•J,()(«) s.piare 
miles." 

The difliculties encountered by Ohio, in the prosecution (d" her 
divi.^ion of the work, and the earnest elforts jtut forth to keep faith 
with Indiana, are illustrated in the extracts given below, from re- 
ports of several consecutive years of the Board of Public Works; 

Extracts from Annual Report of Ohio Board of I'nblic Works 
January Hi, Ib.'JfS : 

' Early last spring, the principal engineer. Mr Forrer. was di 
rected t<» comple'e the tinal location ofthis Wabash A: Erie Canal ; 
and on the 'VnU ol May last, proposals were received at .Maumee 
City, b) the Ai-ting ( 'ommissioner. for llu- confetruction ot so much 



340 Tlie Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 



of the line as extends from its eastern termination, near Manhattan, 
to the " Head of the Rapids," being about thirty miles, and con- 
tracts entered into for all the sections, with the exception of those 
containing the lockage. 

" On the 25th day of October, proposals were received at Defiance 
for the construction of the remaining part of the line, extending 
from the " Head of the Rapids " to the Indiana State line, and con- 
tracts entered into accordingly. 

Extracts from Annual report of Boai'd of Public Works, Decem- 
ber 30, 1839 : 

"The contractors on this work have, from the commencement, 
labored under difficulties, to an extent that no other work in the 
State has been subjected. This has resulted from the continued 
high prices of provisions, enhanced by the remote situation of the 
line from the better cultivated portions of the State, and con- 
sequent high prices of labor, which, with the sickness that has 
prevailed along the line of the canal during the summer months, 
has much retarded the progress of the work. On the first of 
April last, it was progressing as rapidly as could be expected, 
and so continued until about the first of July, at which time, 
on account of the dread of sickness, such as prevailed the season pre- 
vious, the larger portion of the laborers left the line and sought em- 
ployment elsewhere. Owing to this cause, and the difficulty exper- 
ienced by conti'actors in noi receiving regular payments, but little 
work was done from the first of July until the middle of October." 

From the Annual Report of the Board of Public Works, January 
12, 1841 : 

"At the close of the last year, and until the month of April, the 
prospect of obtaining money for completing this work was so doubt- 
ful that contractors were advised of the fact, and recommended to 
use their own discretion and consult their own convenience in pros- 
ecuting their jobs ; consequently, not much work was j^erformed 
during that time. But from the first of April until the month of 
July, the season of- the year when laborers usually leave the canal, 
on account of sickness, the work progressed as rapidly as could have 
been expected, with the limited number of laborers remaining on 
the line. All the locks and culveits are commenced, except the three 
locks connecting with the Maumee river at Manhattan, Toledo and 
Maumee City. From Defiance to the State line, the want of proper 
material rendered it necessary to build the locks of wood." 

From the Annual Report of Board of Public Woi'ks, January 8, 
1842: 

" Seventy miles of different portions of the line are finished, leav- 
ing about twenty miles to be completed. From Manhattan, the 
eastern termination of the canal, to the head of the rapids, a distance 
of thirty one miles, the earth work and culverts are completed, and 



The Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 341 



all of the locks on the main line, consisting of eight lift and one 
cuard lock, are nearly so, an.l will he Hnishe<l at the opening ot nav- 
fffation. The two locks on the Toledo side cut, and hve on the 
Maumee side cut. are also tinished, with the exception ol the gates, 
which will be comjdeted this winter. Ihe out-let lock on the 
Maumee side cut will be finished next May, and the aciucduct across 
Swan Creek, which completes the canal communication with Man- 
hattan will not be finished before the month ot .luly next Ihe 
water has been let in, and the canal used for the purposes of navi- 
.ration the past sea.s.m, from" the head of the Kapids to Maumee 
City a distance of eighteen miles ; and during the present month, 
it is expected, the water will be let into the canal from Maumee 
City to the head of the locks at Toledo, an additional distance of 
nine miles."' ,„ , t o 

From the Annual Report ot Board of Public Works, January 2, 

1843: . 

'•The whole of this work is now so far completed as to admit tlie 
water when the proper season for using the same shall arrive, and 
noihincr but unforeseen accidents will from this time forward, prevent 
at all proper ^easons of the year, an uninterrupted navi,n;alion. _ 

" For the last fifteen months there has not been paid one dollar m 
money, to contractors on this canal, and the amount now due is 
equal to *500,()0(). Almost the whole resources and credit ot lliat 
portion of the State in the vicinity of this work have been used up 
and invested in the construction of the same.' 

The financial embarrassment «..f that period which liad so retarded 
the work in Ohio, was felt also in Indiana. The extended system of 
public works commenced in 1836, was entirely suspended with the 
failure of State credit. The Wabash & Erie Canal was left without 
means, other than the small receipts from laud sales thereafter to be 
made. To open navigation from the Ohio State line to Lafayette, 
required about a quarter of a million of dollars. The following ex- 
tract from the report of J. L. Williams, Chief Engineer, then also 
ex-oiTirio a member of the Hoard of Internal Improvements, dated 
November 27th, 1840, shows the phnlir.-.^ bv which these financial 
difficulties were overcome : 

♦'The completion of the Canal in tm> .>i;it • ii:i.- o.r.i uccomplish- 
ed during the jiast sea.son, under circumstances peculiarly embar- 
rassing to contractors and their creditors. The legislation of last 
wint.-r, while it atithori/rd :ind directed the completion of the W'^rk, 
pr(»vided not a dollar in payment therefor, until it could be realized 
from the sale of Canal lands, which was tix.'d bv law for the month 
of October. Believing it important that the few remaining con- 
tracts which had been so long on hand, should be comp eted, in 
order that the community might enjoy the convenience of the navi- 



342 The Canal Systems of Ohio and Imdiava. 



gation, and that the State might save the expense of niMintainiug 
any hmger a cOrps of engineers for its superintendence, the under- 
signed has been unremitting in his exertions for the accomplishment 
of this object. 

" By giving an assurance to the laborers and others that their ad- 
justed claims would be recognized, and that each claim would re- 
ceive its proportionate dividend of the money received at the land 
sale, the contractors were enabled to keep up their operations and 
complete their jobs. On tinal settlement, made during the present 
month, there was found to be due to contractors and others, the sum 
of $115,124.08, of which amount the monev received for sale of 
lands was found sufficient to pay twenty five per cent., leaving the 
sum of $86,587.47 unpaid, for which the Commissioner has issued 
drafts on the fund commissioners, based upon the further proceeds 
of the canal lands. These drafts, of which there are eleven hundred 
and seventy-two in number, vary in amount from one dollar to sev- 
eral thousand dollars, in proportion to the size of the claims. Un- 
der existing laws they are redeemable only when the amount is 
realized from the future proceeds of the lands. The propriety of 
meeting them at an earlier day will doubtless suggest itself to the 
Legislature. If there be no other means of paying these drafts, per- 
haps the substitution of scrip or Treasury Notes, of small denomi- 
nations, made receivable for lands, would afford a convenience to the 
holders of them." 

No action having been taken by the legislature for the speedy 
payment of these drafts, the engineer, upon his own responsibility, 
and without the authority of the law, (necessity knows no law) pro- 
cured a plate to be struck in imitation of a bank note, from which, 
on more lasting bank note paper, and in small denominations, new 
notes were issued in redemption of the first white paper drafts then 
nearly worn out by circulation. This issue, bearing interest and 
receivable for canal lands, entered readily during that period of pe" 
cuniary stringency, into the circulating medium of that part of the 
State, under the name of " White Dog," a name facetiously given to 
it by the recipients for reasons well understood at that time. 

The extension of the land grant from the mouth of the Tippecanoe 
river to Terre Hante, as claimed by the State, and finally authorized 
by Congress, laid a financial basis for the canal along the Wabash 
to that point. The construction of this part of the line was author- 
ized by the legislature of Indiana at the session of 1841-42. Fol- 
lowing the precedent set by the engineer east of the mouth of the 
Tippecanoe, which, though without law, had proved a success, the 
legislature having no other financial resource, authorized the issue 
of canal land scrip in payment for the work, of the denomination of 



The Canal ^^ystems of Ohio and Indiana. .'U3 



five dollars, and in the shape of Bank issues, receivable lor these 
lands. This land scrip, as in tlie other case, formed a part of the 
circulating medium in that region. By the year ls45 navigation 
was exlendeil as far west as Covington on the Wabash. 

The contrast, financially, between the year 184U and liSTO is cer- 
tainly striking. SuWy millions of money are readily obtained from ^^ 
Europe and in this country for the construction ol public works in 
exchange for securities of far less strength than the bonds of the 
State. Then, even State obligations, small in amount, required the 
pledge of future land sales to make them current. 

In the summer ot 1843, as the Board anticipated, the Ohio 
portion of the canal was completed, and the entire work m naviga- 
ble order between Lake Erie and the fertile valley of the Wabash. 
The achievement was appropriately celebrated by the united assem- 
tilage of the citizens of both Status at Fort Wayne, on the 4th of 
July, 1843, to whom an able and classic oration was delivered by 
General Lewis Cass. 

The Miami Canal Extension, now known as the Miami and Erie, 
was open for business in June 1845 — thus completing a continuous 
line of canal between the Maumee bay and the Ohio river at Cin- 
cinnati. 

Thus is sketched a history of the origin, progress and completion 
of the canal .systems of the two great States of Ohio and Indiana, so 
far as the Maumee valley is concerned. 

It may not be out of place here to give a sketch of one of the 
civil engineers who was prominently connected with the public 
works of the Maumee valley. The names of others and their pub- 
lic services are referred to in another place. In a volume entitled, 
"Lives and Works of Civil and Military Engineers of America, by 
Charles B. Stuart, Civil Engineer,"* a handsomely printed octavo 
volume of .'»2.*» i»ages, and one of the most interesting of its character 
ever issued from the American press, embraces sketches of 
Major Andrew Ellicott, Surveyor General of the United States ; 
James Geddes, Benjamin Wright. Canvass While, Jesse L. Wil- 
liams, David Stanhope Bates, Nathan S. Roberts, Gridley Bryant, 
General Joseph G. Swift, Col. William McUee, Samuel H. Kneass, 
Captain John Childe, Friedereich Harbach, Major David Bates 
Douglas, Jonathan Knight, Benjamin U. Latrobe, Colonel Charles 

• Recently published by D. Van Nostrand, t8 Murray St . , New York. 



344 The Canal Systems of Ohio and Indiana. 



Elliott. Jr., and others who have been prominent in the grand 
achievements made in Civil Engineering in the United States dur- 
ing the last half century. And among other civil engineers whose 
biography and services are sketched in the above named volume, 
and who have been connected with the early public works of the 
Maumee valley, undertaken by the joint action of the States of Ohio 
and Indiana, none have been more conspicuous than Samuel Forrer 
of Ohio. 

The subjoined sketch of him is from the volume just mentioned of 
Mr. Stuart : 

"Samuel Forrer, born in Dauphin county. Pennsylvania, January 
17, 1793, visited Ohio at the age of 21 years, but soon after returned 
home, where be remained until 1817, when he removed to Dayton, 
which has since been his place of residence. 

" In July 1825, the Ohio canals were commenced under the gen- 
eral supervision of David S. Bates as Chief Engineer. Mr. Forrer 
had been betore employed from the very beginning of the canal sur- 
veys in Ohio, and now took charge of the work on the Miami and 
Erie canal. He continued in the service of the State until 1831 dur- 
ing which time he located the whole of the Miami and Erie canal 
and its branches, and a great portion of the Ohio canal. In 1832 
he was appointed a member of the Board of Canal Commissioners, 
and continued in that position three years, when that Board was 
abolished and a Board of Public Works created in its stead by the 
Legislature of Ohio, of which he was a member several years. Not 
only was he exceedingly useful in this capacity, but by his zeal, 
general intelligence, and force of character, l^e contributed largely 
to the promotion of the canal system, and was a valuable co-laborer 
with the men of that period who shaped the policy ot the State and 
laid the foundations of her commercial institutions. Mr. Forrei' was 
at one time a contractor on the Wabash and Erie Canal in Indiana. 

"The following extract from a letter written by the Hon. Jesse 
L. Williams, of Fort Wayne, an old professional co-laborer, dated 
Dayton, Ohio, April 12, 1871, and published in Stuart's work, ex- 
plains the condition in which he found Mr. Forrer : 

" I was to-day an hour with Mr. Samuel Forrer at his home. He 
is in a feeble state. Paralysis has been gradually coming on, which 
affects somewhat his speech and strength of body, yet his intellect is 
unimpaired. He is still the consulting engineer and chief depend- 
ence, professionally, of the Ohio State Board of Public works, es- 
pecially as to everything relating to the Miami and Erie canal for 
the enlargement of which work he has lately submitted an estimate. 
He attends all meetings of the Board at Columbus. His age is 78 
years. I was gratitied in having the opportunity, probably the last 
one, of conversing with so good a man^ so near the close of a useful 
life." 



The Old Packet Lints and their Captains. 345 

Captain Geori^e Dutch Davis, now of the United States Revenue 
office, Toletlo. kindly furnishes '* some recollections ot the palmy 
davs of the Miami and Wabash canals, together with the names of 
boats and captains,"' which may be properly appended here. The 
fact may be recalled that the office of captain of a cunal packet boat, 
in those times, was regarded as invested with a dignity equal to that 
now awardeil to one in command of the best steamer that floats 
upon the lakes; and, though slower and more expensive, they had 
the advantage of railway coaches on the score of comfort. Some of 
the generation of to-day make merry when they recur to what now 
strikes them as tlio slow modes of travel and transportation of the 
canal days, and commisserate the condition of their fathers, whose 
highest rate of speed in a passage packet boat was from seventy-five 
to a hundred miles in twenty-four hours; while, by improvements 
since made, six hundred mihs, in tlie same length of time, can be con- 
veniently passed over in railway coaches ; yet, if they had " roughed 
it" through the black swamp, when, indeed, it /tv/.v a "black swamp'' 
— though one no longer — paying high rates of passage in the rude 
and comfortless vehicles that then conveyed the United States 
mails, and struggling, often on foot, half the distance through mud 
and water, because the horses had not the strength to draw their 
weary load ; and again, when off the stage routes, to undertake a 
journty ot a hundred miles, one would leave home on horse-back, 
and before reaching his destination, would |)erhaps travel by the 
various conveyances of piro;;ue, raft and canoe, and finally be glad 
to finish his journey after several days of severe toil, on foot 
and horseless; and. if our young friend would recur to the fact that 
farmproduots. in many places, did not jiay transportation charges 
to reach a market ; and also to the fact that the country merchant 
often paid more in treights on some of his goods, than the invoice 
amounted to in the market where purchased ; he would not then 
marvel at the exultation indulged in by the inhabitatits of the Mau- 

niee valley, when the canals were ojieiicd Cor travel and transporta- 
tion use.^. 

But in turning to the re( olleeliuns ol (apt. Davis: he .slates that 
in the year \^\'-\, Samuel and Archie Mahon, brothers, commenced 
running two small packets between Toledo and Fort Wayne — start- 
inLT and stopping without reference to regular time — sometimes 
camj'ingout, and getting their meals at farm houses along the line 
of canal. Nothing, however, was permanently undertaken in packet 



346 The Old Packet Lines and their Ca/ptains. 

boating until the summer of 1844, when Samuel Doyle and William 
Dickey, of Dayton, Ohio, organized a line making regular trips be- 
tween Toledo and Cincinnati, and from Toledo to Lafayette, com- 
prising the following boats, namely: "Erie," "Banner," "Ohio,'' 
" Indiana,'' " Illinois," " Missouri." " Kentucky," " Tempest," "Cata- 
ract," " Atlantic," '' Fashion " and a steam propeller named " Niag- 
ara." 

Capt. George Dutch Davis opened the first regular packet office 
in Toledo, in 1844, and in 1845 resigned the position to again take 
charge of his boat, and Wm. J. Fitilay was given charge of the of- 
fice, and retained it until the opening of the Toledo and Wabash 
railroad in 1854 caused the withdrawal of the line. During the last 
five years of the existence of the line the proprietorship was in the 
hands of Jerome Petree, of Little Falls, N. Y., and E B. Holmes, 
of Brockport, N. Y., who purchased the interest of Doyle & Dickey 
in 1849. 

The names of the old packet captains, which have a choice place 
in the memories of thousands yet residents of the Maumee valley? 
and of other thousands distributed over distant regions, are given 
below, and the disposition which the hand of Providence has made 
of them : 

Thomas B, Filton, deceased ; W. S. B, Hubbell, deceased ; M. Van 
Home, resides in Iowa; John M. Wigton, Toledo; Clark Smith, 
deceased; A. Vauness, deceased; Byron O. Angel, Fort Wayne; 
Wm. Sturgess, deceased ; Benjamin Ayres, deceased ; Joseph Hoskin- 
son, Napoleon ; William Phillips, Lima ; Charles Sherwood, Cincin- 
nati ; Christian Suavely, deceased; George Alvord, in Arkansas; 
James Popple and Nathan Nettleton, St. Louis; Thomas B. 
McCarty,late State Auditor of Indiana, at Indianapolis ; Elias Webb, 
Middletovvn, Ohio ; William Dale, New York; Geo. Dutch Davis, To- 
ledo ; J. R. Smith, Cincinnati. 

George Owen and David S. Davis, of Dayton, were proprietors of 
the first packet line from Dayton to Cincinnati. Samuel Doyle was 
the first to experiment with steam on the Miami canal — having built 
in 1845, the propeller "' Niagara," at a cost of 810,000. She was 
commanded by Capt. William Dale, and proved a failure financially. 

Mr. Colerick, among his interesting reminiscences of early times, 
contributed to the Fort Wayne Gazette, gives the following account 
of the first boat ride on the canal : 

In the spring of 1834, the canal being finished from the feeder dam 



Openivg of Canal Navigation of Ft. Wayne. 847 

to the town, and the water having been let in in the month of June, 
all were ret^nttinir fhiit there was no boat with which to have a ride 
on the a|)|M-oa('liinp: 4th of July. Th^n the indtfatirrable F. P. 
'riukhani, seeing the situation, wiMit to the woods and cut down the 
trees with which to make the hull of a boat, and in less than two 
weeks time had a staunch craft conijileted and alloat. and on the 
mitrninp of the <;lorions 4th of July the entire population embarked 
thereon and proceeded tt) the feeder dam, live miles distant, where, 
after sju-nding the day in eating, drinking and making merry, all 
returntd t(t their homes, well jtleascd with the day's doings, and feel- 
ing thenist-lves uiuler great obligations to Mr. Tinkliam fur the first 
Itoat ride on the canal. 

Hv the first of June of the following year the canal was completed 
to Huntington. Capt. Asa Fairfield (recently deceased) in the 
meantime liad contracted for the building of a boat, which was 
finished in the latt.r part of the month of June, and was called the 
Indiana. He placed his brother, Capt. Oliver Fairfield, an old sea 
captain, who had just come to the country, in command ; and on 
the morning of the anniversary of American independence, (now an 
obsolete idea), the Indiana started on her first trip to Huntington, 
carrying a large party of gentlemen, (no ladies), including Dr. L. G. 
Thompson, Judge Hanna, Allen Hamilton, Samuel and Wm. S. 
FdsidI, W. G. and G. W. Ewing, Francis Comparet, Capt J. B. 
Bourie. Wm. Rockhill, Col. J(jhn Spencer, J. L. Williams, D. H. 
Coleiiek, L. P. Ferry, Jas. Barnett, M. H. Scott, Madison Swcetzer, 
and many others. Capt Fairfield, now a nsident of Pecatur, Indi- 
ana, with whom I had a conversation ncently regarding the matter, 
said that this was the liveliest l)arty that he ever carried on the 
Indiana. On the return trip the next day, Dr. Tate, Capt. Murray 
and many other citizens of the town returned with the party, and 
thereafter trips were made every other day, carrying freight and 
passeiiiiers, and as the canal was comjjleted to each jwint, the " In- 
diana" extended her trip." thereto. And with what pleasure did wc 
frequently repair to the dock on her arrival, (an event of no small 
interest to us isolated beings) which was always heralded by the 
clarionet and violin of Ed. Parker and Bill Patchin, > mjdoyees, as 
the boat emerged from the aqueduct and rounded the bend west of 
town. Sweeter music I think I never heard than these two men 
made; it 1 ast, such is the impression that it left long years agone. 
There were no buildings then on the banks of the canal to interrupt 
the sound or view from Columbia street." 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FOET WATKE. 



This city, situated at the head of the head of the Miami of the 
Lake,, and among the first founded in this empire of the north-west, 
by Europeans — the Ke-ki-ong-a of the aborigines — the capital of 
the ancient Twigtwee, or Miami confederacy, appropriately occupies 
the first place in the sub-divisions commenced with this chapter. 

It has been stated (see aut. p 9), that the chevalier La Salle vis- 
ited this place, and, as early as 1680, erected a stockade. As hither- 
to remarked, the authority for this statement is the late A. T. Good- 
man, Secretary of the Western Reserve and Northern Ohio 
Historical Society, whose intelligence in archaelogical researches 
throughout both continents, in collecting material relating to the 
early history of the West, was appreciated and recognized by the 
best minds in the country. In a letter to the author of this work, 
dated Cleveland, August 38, 1871, Mr. Goodman says: 

" I was glad to learn by your favor of the 26th that you contem- 
plate publishing a ' history of the Maumee Valley ;' and after some 
allusion of a personal character adds that "the field abounds in in- 
teresting historical resources, and I desire to place myself at your 
service, to aid and assist with what material I have in my private 
collections, and what is on file in the rooms of the society." 

With reference to the early occupation of the country, he assures 
his correspondent that his facts on this point are " drawn from 
French records at Montreal and Quebec, and papers at Albany and 
Harrisburg.'' In a subsequent letter he promises " full data as soon 
as his health improves," but unfortunately that improvement never 
came, and within a low days subsequent to writing his promise, his 
useful life was brought to a close. 

Mr. J. L. Williams, in his historical sketch of the Firs*- Presbyte- 
rian Church of Fort Wayne, says that " a report of LaSalle, written 
probably in 1682 [but more probably in 1680,] mentions the route 



Fort Wayne. 349 

by the Maumee and Wabash, as the most direct to the Mississippi ;'' 
and very justly observes that "it is improbable that the French 
would puss this thronged centre of the Miamis, at the carrying 
place between these rivers, without establishing hero one of that 
cordon of military posts designed to connect their Canadian and 
Mississippi settlements. Vaudreuil," says Mr. Williams, "Governor 
of Louisiana, writing in 1751,'' seventy-one years after the erection 
of the original work, "names Fort Miami at this point. It was a 
small stockade fort, and situated near the St. Mary, probably in the 
vicinity of the canal aqueduct. The dim outlines of the fort were 
traced by Wayne in 1794, and by Colonel John Johnston in 1800.'' 

Not having the benefit of the "full data" which Mr. Goodman 
intended to furnish, it is aspumed as probable that the Chevalier 
built his stockade here in the autumn of 1680, on his return route 
from the St. Joseph's of Michigan to Fort Frontenac. In confirma- 
tion of this view, and in conclusion of its discussion, it may be 
added that the pioneers relate, as a current tradition among the 
Indians at Fort Wayne, that they were first visited by white men 
who came from the West. 

From the furliest record the Miamies have been a leading and 
influential tribe. Bancroft says: "The Miamies were the most 
powerful confederacy of the West, excelling the Six Nations. * * 
Their influence reached to the Mississippi, and they received fre- 
quent visits from tribes beyond that river." Mr. Gamelin, the mes- 
senger sent by Governor St. Clair, in April, 1790, to know the mind 
of the Indians as to peace or war, after reading the Governor's 
speech to the chiefs and head men, in every village on the route 
from Vincennes, was everywhere desired to proceed to the Miami 
town (Ke-ki-ong-gay). They said, " you know that we can termi- 
nate n(»thing without the consent of our brothers — the Miamies.' 
The impress of its name upon so many western rivers, shows the 
predominence of the tribe. The two Aliamies of the Ohio will ever 
perpetuate it. The Miami of Lake Erie (nt)W Maumee) was like- 
wise named for the tribe. The St. Joseph, of Lake Michigan, was 
called the ''river Miinnies,''' when LaSalle erected a fort, and Ileue- 
pin lin^t raised the cross at its mouth in November, 1079.* Our own 
St. Marys was marked ^'Miamies river''' on the rude skeleton map, 
made to represent the western country at the time of Colonel Bo- 
quet's expedition in 1703. — Xofe hi/ J. L. Williatns. 

In the conspiracy of Nicholas, begun in 1745, described in preced- 
ing pages, the destruction of the French village at Fort Wayne, it 



•This ie one of HpiinepiirB historical errors. Father Marfiuelte or Alloez bad preceded 
IleiiDepln at this puint eeveral yearH, and eBtablisbed a tnlMlouaod erected the croaii. 



S56 FoH Wayne. 

will be observed, formed an important part of the scheme ; and the 
fort and village were besieged, captured and demolished. The Fort 
Miami that was re-built, and occupied by the French under Lieut. 
Dubuisson, after the conspiracy of Nicholas had been crushed, was 
doubtless the one at Fort Wayne, and not the Fort Miami formerly 
erected at the mouth of the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, about 
1678 or 1679. 

The next historical event, memorable in the annals of Fort 
Wayne, occurred in 1763, during the Pontiac war. The conspiracy 
of Nicholas was designed to subvert the French power; the scheme 
of Pontiac was directed against the English. [See ante, pp. 34, 35, 
41, 42, 43 and 44, for events in the Pontiac war having relation to 
Fort Wayne and the Maumee valley.] 

Mr. J. L. Williams, in his interesting address from which liberal 
quotations have been already made, says : 

"Four nations, at different periods, have held dominion here. 
For near half a century prior to the conquest of Canada, the tri- 
colored flag waved at the meeting of the St. Joseph and St. Mary. 
The French adapted their manners and character to forest life. 
Schoolcraft says, the Indians of the North West often referred to 
'the days of French supremacy as a kind of golden era, when all 
things in their affairs were better than they now are.' Then came 
the English m December, 1760, and the British flag was run up in 
its stead. Their manners were reserved and haughty, far less 
adapted than the genial, pliant and vivacious French to win the 
confidence of the Indians. In no particular is there a greater dis- 
similarity m the two Nations. The French, like the Spaniards, 
readily meet a lower civilization upon an intermediate platform, as 
in Canada aud Mexico. The genuine Anglo Saxon takes no step 
downward. English society in Calcutta is as select and high-toned 
as in London. To elevate, near to its own level, or else to destroy 
by gradual encroachment and pressure, seems to be the mission of 
the race among the sluggish and decaying nations. Whether or not 
the Indian sagacity was adequate to a full perception of these diverse 
tendencies, certain it is that the Miamis of that day were haters of 
the English. In less than three years the British flag was lowered, 
and its proud defiant folds trailed in British blood.* The conspi- 
racy of Pontiac — greatest of the Red race, in genius, force of char- 
acter, and statesman-like combination — had done its work. Nine of 
the twelve English Forts in the Northwest, scattered from Presque- 

*It was about the period of these stirring changes, that the laie Miami Chief Richardville 
was born under the " the big apple tree," standing some sixty rods from the supposed site of 
tills old British Fort. This tree yet stands, connecting the memories of the past century with 
the present. Its circumference is eleven feel. We need not question its identity. There are 
specimens of the hardier varieties in this country now bearing fruit at the age of 150 to 200 
years. (See Am. Cyclopedia.) 



Fort Wayne. 351 



Isle (now Erii') to Green liuy, ;iiul fVoiii Mackinaw to Ouiateiion 
(near Lafayette) were captured, with terrible carnage, in the space 
of a few weeks. Only Detroit, Fort Pitt, and Green Bay, success- 
fully resisted the simultaneous attack. Thenceforward, for thirty- 
one years, as in the preceding century, the barbarian power and glory 
of the jMianiis at this point were unchecked, until the advent of 
Wayne. To the Indians, as to us, it was a chosen central home and 
place of thronged concourse. Here the tribes and bands gathered 
in council for War or for Peace. History attests their attachment 
to it. Their appeal at the Greenville treaty in 1795, after their 
country had been conquered, for permission still to occupy this spot, 
was tt)uching. But the earth is for cultivation, not permanently for 
the chase. For great and beneficent providential ends — the greatest 
good to the greatest number — civilization and religion were to be 
introduced, and the red man has passed away. Under American 
rule has risen this beautiful city of some twelve thousandf inhabi- 
tants, with Railroads and Telegraphs, Churches and Free Schools." 

In the same lecture another historical event ol much interest is 
thus noticed : 

"The expedition of LaBalm against Detroit in August or Sep- 
tember, 1780, also connects Fort Wayne, by memorials written in 
blood, with the war of the Revolution. This daring forest chief- 
tarn, with earnest sympathy for the American cause, and, we must 
think, with more zeal than knowledge, collected at Kaskaskia and 
Viucennes, about an hundred men, and set out for the capture of 
Detroit, then in possession of the British. The signal achievement 
of Col. George Rogers Clark, a few months before, in taking Vin- 
cennes with one hundred and seventy men, no doubt incited to this 
daring adventure. Seizing the goods of British traders at Fort 
Wayne, on his march, the Miamis, instigated by the English, at- 
tacked his encampment on the River Aboite in this vicinity. In 
this battle LaBalm's little army, with few exceptions, was entirely 
cut oflf." 

Charles B. LaSalle, of L'igansport, formerly a citizen of Fort 
Wayne, published in the Democratic Pharos, in 1857, some reminis- 
cences, which were copied into Mr. Brice's history, and which con- 
tain the Ibllowing reference to the ill-considered expedition of 
LaBalm : 

"Colonel Clark, on the eapture of Viucennes, had meditated an 
expedition against Fort Wayne, as well iu> against Detroit; and 
though lie seems never t<» have abandoned the idea, yet he could not 
succeed in his arrangements to attenij)t its execution. But while 
the subject was still fresh in the mind of Clark, and the inhabitants 
of the Lt)Wer Wabash, another individual nuide his appearance to 

tTlila Addreu wu delivered in March. 186a 



352 LaBalrri's Unfortunate Expedition. 



undertake what even the daring Clark, with greater resources, did 
not deem prudent to venture upon. This was LaBalm. But of 
him and his expedition, it may be here stated, very little informa- 
tion, of an entirely authentic shape, is within our reach. Whatever 
may be given in this brief sketch, has been obtained mostly from 
some of those who were in part eye-witnesses to the events, and from 
tradition as handed down by the old inhabitants. LaBalm was a 
native of France, and had come to this country as some kind of an 
ofiicer, with the French troops, under LaFayette, in 1779. We are 
not apprised whether he came to the West on his own responsibility, 
or whether he was directed by some authority; but we find him, in 
the Summer of 1780, in Kaskaskia, raising volunteers to form an 
expedition against the post of Ke-ki-ong-a, with the ulterior view, 
in case of success, of extending his operations against the fort and 
towns of Detroit. At Kaskaskia he succeeded in obtaining only 
between twenty and thirty men. With these he proceeded to Vin- 
cennes, where he opened a recruiting establishment for the purpose 
ot raising the number necessary for his object. But he does noi 
seem to have been met liere with the favor and encouragement of 
the principal inhabitants, or to have had much success in his enlist- 
ment. His expedition was looked upon as one of doubtful propri- 
ety, both as to its means and objects, and it met with the encourage- 
ment, generally, of only the least considerate. He conducted his 
march with such caution and celerity, that he appeared at the village 
of Fort Wayne before even the watchful inhabitants had apprehend- 
ed his approach. The sudden appearance of a foe, unknown as to 
numbers, character and designs, threw them into the greatest alarm, 
and they fled on all sides. LaBalm took possession of the place 
without resistance. It was probably his intention, in imitation of 
Clark's capture of Kaskaskia, to take the village and its inhabitants 
by surprise ; and then, by acts and professions of kindness and 
friendship, to win them over to the American cause; but the in- 
habitants, including some six or eight French traders, totally eluded 
his grasp. His occupation of the village was not of long duration. 
After remaining a short time, and making plunder of the goods of 
some of the French traders and Lidians, he retired to near the 
Aboite Creek, near the poait where the Wabash ^ud Erie canal now 
crosses this stream, and encamped. The Indians, having soon ascer- 
tained the number and character of LaBalm's forces, and learning 
that they were Frenchmen, were not disposed at first to avenge the 
attack ; but of the traders then living in the village, there were two 
named Beatfbien (who married the chiefess, widow of Joseph Drouet 
de Richardville, and mother of the late chief of the nation, Joseph 
B. Richardville,) and LaFountain, (father of the late Miami chief, 
LaFountain,) who, nettled and injured by the invasion and plunder 
of the place, were not disposed to let the invaders off without a 
blow. These men, having incited the Indians to follow and attack 
LaBalm, they soon rallied their warriors of the village and vicinity, 



LaBaMs Unfortunate Expedition. 353 

under the lead of their war chief, the Little Turtle., and, falling upon 
them in the night time, massacred the entire party. Not one is 
said to have survived to relate the sad story of the expedition. 

" Such 46 a brief and imperfect account of La Balm's expedition, 
of which so little is known. It may not have been impelled by the 
most patriotic motives, nor guided by wise counsels, nor attended 
with results especially lioneficial to the country; yet, as an interest- 
ing event, connected with the early history of the country, it should 
be preserved f.-om the oblivion which rests upon it." 

" The sagacious mind of Washington,'' says Mr. Williams, "at an 
early period, tixed upon the junction of the St. Mark's and the St. 
Joseph's ai of commanding importance for a strong military post." 
This statement will presently be fully verified. [See ante. pp. 72 
and 74]. 

In a letter to Richard Henry Lee, written in 1784, Washington 
wrote : " Would it not be worthy of the wisdom and attention of 
Congress to have the western waters well explored, the navigation of 
them fully ascertained and accurately laid down, and a complete and 
perfect map made of the country, at least as iar westerly as the Mi- 
amis, running into the Ohio and Lake Erie, and to see how the 
waters of these comnuinicate wit'i the river St. Josfph, wliioh 
empties into Lake Michigan, and with the Wabash? for I cannot 
forbear observing that the Miami village, [now Fort Wayne], i)oint8 
to a very important post for the Union." — Brice^a History of Fort 
Wayne, page 109. 

In the Indiana war in the West, the Miamis were the principal 
central power. Occupying, (says Mr. H. R. Schoolcraft), with their 
confederates, the valleys of the Wabash and the Miami of the Lakes, 
they stretched, like an impassible line, between Lake Erie and the 
lower Ohio. They were a complete bar to the enterprise and settle- 
ment of the West. The outrages they, in connection with the 
Shawanees and Delawares committed, and the threatening aspect 
they assumed, led eventually to the march, at separate periods, of 
General Harmar, General St. Clair and General Wayne. In the 
American State Papers appears a letter of Governor St. Clair, dated 
New York, August 2S, 179(>, addressed to the Secretary of War, 
in which the following is given as the motive of employing the mil- 
itary force of .the first campaign : 

"Three hundred of tin- militia of Virginia are to rendezvous at 
Fort Steuben, and, with thf garrison of that fort, to march to Post 
St. Vincennes and join Major Uaintramck ; the remaining twelve 
hundred of the militia to assemble at Fort Washington, under the 
orders of General Harmar, which, with the trooi)S to be collected 
there, will form a body ol' fifteen hundred ; these are intended to 
march directlv across the country to the Miami village (Fort Wayne) 

23 



354 FoH Wayne— 1190. 

while Major Hamtramck moves up the Wabash to attack any of the 
villages on that river to which his force may be equal." 

General Knox, the Secretary of War, in a communication dated 
September 4, 1790, discusses the military importance of the estab- 
lishment of a strong garrison " at the Miami village, (Fort Wayne), 
in the heart of the Indian country.'' And, in a report dated Decem- 
ber 26, 1791, " the great object " of the second military expedition 
under command of General St. Clair, is set forth in language yet 
more explicit : 

" It will appear, by reference to report A, which accompanies this 
report, that the great object of the late campaign was to establish a 
strong military post at the Miami village, lying upon the river of 
that name, which communicates with Lake Erie ; and that subordi- 
nate posts were also to be erected, as well on the Wabash as on the 
said river Miami. 

" That, by an examination of the position of said Miami village, 
and its contiguity to, or connexion with, the waters of the river St. 
Josephs of Lake Michigan, and the river Illinois, and thereby the 
Mississippi ; the Wabash and thereby with the Ohio ; the Miami and 
thereby Lake Erie; its short distance from the Miami of the Ohio, 
which, at times, may afford considerable facility to transportation ; 
it will appear that the said position, with its proper communica- 
tions, is greatly superior to any other, in order to serve as a barrier 
to protect essentially a frontier of upwards of eleven hundred miles, 
stretching from the upper parts of the Alleghany to the lower parts 
of the Ohio. 

" That it was intended to garrison the said post at the Miami 
village, and its communications, with one thousand or twelve hun- 
dred troops, and have it always well stored with provisions, etc. 
That, from the said number, a detachment generally might be spared 
of sufficient m^ignitude to chastise any of the neighboring villages 
or tribes, separately, who might have dared to commit depredations ; 
or be a place to which mounted militia might suddenly repair, draw 
supplies, and act in conjunction, in case of a combination of the sev- 
eral towns or tribes in acts of hostility. 

" Although the precise manner in which the force to be raised 
should be employed, cannot be pointed out with propriety at this 
time, as it will depend on the circumstances of the moment; yet it 
would not be improper to observe, that, upon a review of the objects 
of the late campaign, to-wit : The establishment of a strong mili 
tary post at the Miami village, (junction of the St. Mary's and St. 
Joseph's,) with the necessary posts of communication, the necessity 
and propriety thereof remain the same ; that this necessity will prob- 
ably continue until we shall be possessed of the posts upon Lake 
Michigan, Detroit and Niagara, withheld from us by Great Britan, 
contrary to treaty. Without remarking upon the principles of this 



Fort TfV/yTie— 1794-95. 356 

conduct, it may be observed generally that every arrangement in the 
power of the United States, for establishing the tranquility of the 
frontiers, will Ix^ inferior to thf possession of said posts. That it is, 
however, considered, that if the said posts weie in our [)088e88ion, we 
ought also t" have a strong post at the Miami village, in order to 
render the protection efiectual, and that the posts above mentioned 
will require garrisons whensoever they shall be given up." 

In his otheial report to tlie War Department, communicating the 
pai'ticulars of the victory at the foot of the rapids, dated "Head" 
quart«'rs, Grand Cilaize, (Defiance,) 28th Augunt, 1794," General 
Wayne says: " In the interior we shall improve Fort Defiance, and 
as soon as the escort returns with the necessary supplies from Green- 
ville and Fort Kecovery, the army will proceed to the Miami village, 
(Fort Wayne.) in order to accomplish the object of the campaign." 

A careful analysis of the above quotations will show the import- 
ance, in a military sense, attached to this point by General Washing- 
ton's administration, and they also dimly pre-figurea Just conception 
of its future commercial value. 

This^ Indian capital, at the junction of the St. Mary's and St. 
Joseph's rivers, was the a!)ode of the principal chiefs of the confeder- 
ated tribes, and their reluctance in yielding its possession to the govern- 
ment of the United Stales was illustrated, as hitherto stated, in the 
conduct of Little Turtle during the negotations of the treaty of 
1795. In that contest at Greenville, there met two diplomatists — 
General Wayne, on the part of the United States, and Little Turtle, 
on behalf of the Indian confederacy — who would have been enabled 
to cope with the most sagacious State minister of a European court. 

The council commenced its session on the 16th day of June, and 
the treaty was signed on the 3d and exchanged on the 7th of August. 
The time occui)ied would have been considerably abridged had it 
not been for the obstacles interposed by Little Turtle, the master 
spirit on the part of the Indians, whose chief point was to retain 
partial, if not full possession of his " glorious gate,'' at Fort Wayne. 
The other chiefs, many of whom, in the discussion, gave evideuce of 
the possession of much wisdom and eloquence, early in the negotia- 
tions evinced a disposition to reiulily assent to all the terms prescrib- 
ed by the commissioner of the United States. This entire discussion 
is of deep interest, but only that portion of it which relates espec- 
ially to the negotations affecting the title to Fort Wayne are given. 
In reply to a speech of Little Turtle, General Wayne said, in hia 
address before the conneil held on the •■i4th of Jnlv: 



356 £oH Wayne — Little lurtle. 

"I havepaid attention to what Little Turtle said two days since 
concerning the lands which he claims. He said his fathers first 
kindled the fires at Detroit, and stretched his lines from thence to 
the liead waters of the Sciota ; thence, down the same, to the Ohio ; 
thence, down that river, to the mouth of the Wabash ; and from 
thence to Chicago, on the southwest end of Lake Michigan ; and 
observed that his forefathers had enjoyed that country from time 
immemorial. 

" These boundaries enclose a very large space of country indeed ; 
they embrace, if I mistake not, all the lands on which all the nations 
now jjresent live, as well as those which have been ceded to the 
United States. * * * "^j^e Little Turtle says, the prints 
of his forefather's houses are everywhere to be seen within these 
boundaries. Younger brother, it is true, these prints are to be ob- 
served ; but, at the same time, we discover the marks of French 
possessions throughout this country, which were established long 
before we were born. 

" I will point out to you a few places where I discover strong 
traces of these establishments ; and first of all, I find at Detroit a 
very strong print, where the fire was first kindled by your fore- 
fathers ; next at Vincennes, on the Wabash ; again at Musquitou, 
on the same river ; a little higher up that stream, they are to be seen 
at Onitanou ; I discover another strong trace at Chicago ; another on 
the banks of the St. Josephs of Lake Michigan. I have seen dis- 
tinctly the prints of a French and of a British post at the Miami 
villages, [Fort Wayne,] and of a British post at the rapids, now in 
their possession-" 

At the Council on the 27tli of July, after a general acquiescence 
to the terms of the treaty 'had been given by the other chiefs. Little 
Turtle arose and said : 

'•' Listen you, chiefs and warriors, to what I am about to say to 
you; to you I am speaking. We have heard what our elder brother 
has said to us this day. I expected to have heard -him deliver those 
words ever since we have been here, for which reason I observed you 
were precipitate on your part. This is a business of the greatest 
consequence to us all ; it is an affair to which no one among us can 
give an answer. Therefore, I hope we will take time to consider the 
subject, that we will unite in opinion, and express it unanimously. 
Perhaps our brothers, the Shawanese, from Detroit, may arrive in 
time to give us their assistance. You, chiefs present, are men of sense 
and understanding ; this occasion calls for your serious deliberation, 
and you, my uncles, the Wyandots, and grandfathers, the Delawares, 
view our situation in its true point of consideration." 

In the discussion on the day following, (July 28,) the New Corn, 
a Pottawattomie chief, growing impatient at the delay, exclaimed: 
''Why do you hesitate ? You know good works are always better, 



H I. i 
2- =r X 



I 7 

O 2 

3 3^ 








«/ 

5H 




\ 



Fcn-t Wayne — Little Tkt/rtle. 



when execntt'd with decision. I now entreat you all to join hand 
and heart, and finish this good work with our elder })rother." 

To this Little Turtle replied : 

" All you present must know that every kind of business., es- 
pecially such as we are at present engaged in, exhibits difficulties 
which require jnitience to remove, and consideration to adjust." 

At the council on the 20th of July, addrcssinL'' ♦'riiirnil Wavno, 
Little Turtle said : 

"These people [the French] were sven by our lorriaili' is iirsi ai 
Detroit: afterwards we saw them at the Miami village [Fort Wayne [ 
— that glorious gate which your younger brothers had the happiness 
to own, and through which all the words of our chiefs had to pass, 
from the north to the south, and fr«jin the east to the west, broth- 
ers, these people never told us they wished to purchase these lands 
from us. 

" I now give you the true sentiments of your younger brothers, 

the Miamis, with respect to the reservation at the Miami villages. 

We thank you for kindly contracting the limits you at lirst propos- 

• ed. We wish you to take this six mile square on the side of the 

river wiiere your fort now stands, as your younger brothers wish to 

(inhahit that beloved spot again. You shall cut hay for your cattle 

l|wherever you please, and you shall never require in vain the assist- 

' ance of your younger brothers at that place. 

'• The next place you pointed to, was the Little river, and said you 
wanted two miles square at that place. This is a request that our 
fathers, the French or British, never made us ; it was always ours. 
This carrying place has heretofore pr(jved, in a great degree, the sub- 
sistence of your younger brothers. That place has brought to us, 
in the course of one day, the amount of one hundred dollars. Let 
us both own this place, and enjoy in common the advantages it 
affords." 

In his reply, General Wayne used the following language: 
" I find there is some objection to the reservation at Fort Wayne. 
The Ivittle Turtle observes, he never heard of any cessions mjule at 
that place to the French. I have tracd the lines of two forts at 
that point; one stood at the jiuiction of the St. Joseph's with the 
St. Mary's, and the other not far removed on the St. Mary's, and it 
is ever an established rule, among the Europeans, to reserve as much 
ground around their forts, liS their cannon can command. This is a 
rule as well known as any otln-r fact. 

" Objecti(Ui has also been made resnecting the portage between 
Fort Wayne and the Little river; and the reasons produced, are, 
that that rojid has been to thf Miamis a source of wealth: that it 
has, heretofore, produced them one hundred dollars per day. It may 
be so ; but let us inquire who, in fact, paid this heavy contribution ? 
It is true the traders bear it in the first instance; but they laid it 



358 Fort Wayne— Little Turtle. 

on their goods, and the Indians of the Wabash really, and finally, 
paid it; therefore, it is the Little Beaver, the Soldier, the Snn, and 
their tribes, who have actually been so highly taxed." 

At a private conference, on the 12th August (after the treaty had 
been signed and exchanged), vs^ith the Miamis, Eel river and Klck- 
apoo Indians, the Little Turtle, in the name of the others, observed 
that, as they intended soon to depart, and return to their respective 
homes, he took the opportunity of repeating to the General that he, 
himself, and the Indians with him, were perfectly acquainted with 
every article of the treaty ; that no part of it had escaped their 
serious and anxious deliberation ; that, in the early stage of the ne- 
gotiation, he had not comprehended the moderation and liberality 
with which he is now convinced it is dictated ; that, to this cause, 
and to a duty which he conceives he owes his country, must be 
attributed the opposition he exhibited on sundry occasions; that he 
was persuaded his Father would not think unkindly of him for it ; 
for he had heard him, with much pleasure, approve of the freedom 
with which he delivered his sentiments; that he was a man who 
spoke as he thought, and a man of sincerity; and that he embraced 
this last occasion to declare that, as he was fully convinced that the 
treaty was wisely and benevolently calculated to promote the mu- 
tual interest, and insure the permanent happiness of the Indians? 
and their Father, the Americans ; so it was his determined resolu • 
tion to adhere religiously to its stipulations. He asked for traders 
to reside at their diflferent villages, and mentioned the names of 
some, who, for the confidence he had in their integrity, they wished 
might be licensed, and continued by the United States, as traders 
among them ; he hoped (the Weeas particularly,) that a fort would 
be immediately established at Oniatanon ; and promised every as- 
sistance which they could afford to the establishment ; that he, him- 
self, would reside near Fort Wayne, where daily experience should 
convince his Father of his sincere friendship ; and that, as he in- 
tended to re-kindle the grand council fire at that place, by means of 
which the different nations might communicate with each other as 
usual, he requested his Father to give orders to the commandant at 
Fort Wayne, to inform him. from time to time, of any measures 
which the great council of the Fifteen Fires might adopt, in which 
the interest of their children should be concerned ; and that Mr. 
Wells might be placed there as a resident interpreter, as he possessed 
their confidence as fully as he did that of their Father. 



Fcyri Wayne — Indian Treaty of 1803. 359 

The next and final appearance of Little Turtle in the field (jf 

diplomacy, was at the Convention held at Fort Wayne, June 7, 

1803. The following are the 

Articles of a Treaty made at Fort Wayne on the Miami of the Lake, be- 
tween William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indian Territory, superin- 
tendent of Indian affairs, and commissioner plenipotentiary of the United 
States for concluding any treaty or treaties which may be found necessary 
with any of the Indian tribes north west of the Ohio, of the one part, and 
the tribes of Indians called the Delawares, Shawanoes, Potawatimies, Mi- 
amis and Kickapoos, by their chiefs and bead warriors, and those of the 
Eel river, Weeas, Piankashaws and Kaskaskias, 1)y their^agents and repre- 
sentatives Tuthinipee, Winnemac, Richerville and Little Turtle (who are 
properly authorized by the said tribes) of the other part. 

Article I. "Whereas, it is declared by the fourth article of the 
treaty of Greenville, that the United States reserve for their use the 
post of St. Vincennes and all the lands adjacent to which'tlie Indian 
titles had been extinguished : And whereas, it has been found dif!i- 
cult to determine the precise limit of said tract as held by the French 
and British governments ; it is hereby agreed that the boundaries of 
the said tract shall be as follow : Beginning at Point Coupee on the 
Wabash, and running thence by a line north seventy-eight degrees, 
west twelve miles : thence by a line parallel to the general course of 
the Wabash, until it shall be intersected by a line at right angles 
to the same, passing through the mouth of White river; thence by 
the last mentioned line across the Wabash and towards the Ohio, 
seventy two miles; thence by a line north twelve degrees west, until 
it shall be intersected by a line at right angles to the same, passing 
through Point Coupee, and by the last mentioned line to the place 
of beginning. 

Art. II. The United States hereby relinquish all claim which 
they may have had to any lands adjoining to or in the neighbor- 
hood of the tract above described. 

Art. III. As a mark of their regard and attachment to the 
United States, whom they acknowledge for their only friends and 
protectors, and for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, the said 
tribes do hereby relinf[uish and cede to the United States the great 
salt spring upon the Saline creek which falls into the Ohio below 
the mouth of the Wal)ash, witli a quantity of land surrounding it 
not exceeding four miles square, and which may be laid olf in a 
square or oblong as the one or the other may be found most conven- 
ient to the United States: And the said United Slates being desi- 
rous that the Indian tribes sh<tuld particijiate in tiie benrlits to be 
derived from tin- said spring, hereby engage to deliver yearly and 
every year for the use of said Indians, a quantity of salt not exceed- 
ing one himdred and fifty bushels, and which shall be divided among 
the several tribes in such manner as the general council of the chiefs 
may determine. 

Art. IV. For the considerations before mentioned, and for the 
convenience which the said tribes will themselves derive from such 



360 Fort Wayne — Indian Treaty qf 1803. 



establishments, it is hereby agreed that as soon as the tribos called 
Kickapoos, Eel river, Weeas, Piankashaws and Kaskaskias shall give 
their consent to the measure, the United States shall have the right 
of locating three tracts of land (of such size as ma}^ be agreed upon 
with the last mentioned tribes) on the main road between Vincennes 
and Kaskaskias, and one other between Vincennes and Olarksville, 
for the purpose of erecting houses of entertainment for the accom- 
modation of travellers. But it is expressly understood that if the 
said locations are made on any of the rivers vs^hich cross the said 
road, and ferries should be established on the same, that in times of 
high water any Indian or Indians belonging to either of the tribes 
who are parties to this treaty shall have the privilege of crossing 
such ferry toll' free.- 

Aet. V. Whereas, there is reason to believe that if the boundary 
lines of the tract described in the first article should be run in the 
manner therein- directed, that some of the settlements and locations 
of land made to the citizens of the United States will fall in the 
Indian country — It is hereby agreed that such alterations shall be 
made in the direction of these lines as will include them ; and a 
quantity of land equal in duality to what may be thus taken shall 
be given to the said tribes either at the east or the west end of the 
tract. 

Isr TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The Commissioner of the United States 
and the chiefs and warriors of the Delawares, Shawanoes, Potawat- 
imies, Miamis and Kickapoos, and those of the Eel river, Weeas, 
Piankashaws, and Kaskaskias, by their agents and representatives, 
Tuthinipee, Winnemac, Richerville, and the Little Turtle, who are 
properly authorized by the said tribes, have hereunto subscribed 
their names and affixed their seals at Fort Wayne, this seventh day 
of June, A. D., 1803, and of the Independence of the United States, 
the twenty-seventh. 

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 

Miamies. 

Richerville ^ On behalf of themselves and Eel river, 

Me-she-kun-nogh-quoh > Weeas, Piankashaws and Kaskaskias, 
(or Little Turtle.) j whom they represent. 

Kickapoos. 

Nah-mah-to-hah, (or standing,) Pas-she- we-hah, (or cat.) 

Shawanoese. 

STEAHMEMICEH. 

PottawaUomies. 



T thininee ) ^'^ behalf of the Pottawattomies and Eel PJver, 
tJ| P ')■ Weeas, Pinkashaws and Kaskaskias, whom they 

3 represent. 
Wannangsea, or Five Medals ; Keesas (or Sun.) 



J^orl Wayne— Indian Treaty of 180a. 361 

Delnjnnres. 

TeUi Hnxike, Hockingpomskenn, 

Bu-Kon-ige-helas, Kechkawluinuml. 

Shawanoese , 

Cu-the-we-ka-.sa\v, (or Black Hoof,) Mcthawnasice. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of John Rice Jones, 
Secretary of the Commissioner ; John Gibson, Secretary of Indian 
Territory; Thomas Pasterrs, Capt. first regiment Infantry ; Wm. 
Wells, Interpreter ; John Johnston, United States Factor , Hend- 
rick Aiipanmert, chief of Mnhhecon ; Thomas Freeman. 
The proceerlings at the within treaty were faithfully interpreted 
by us, John Gibson and William Wells; that is, for the Delawares, 
John Gibson ; and for the rest of the tribes, William Wells. 

John Gibson, 
William Wells. 

To the Indian names are subjoined a marked seal. 

The chief. Little Turtle, was the leader who had overthrown the 
Federal armies in the expeditions of 1790 and 1791, and whiili had 
struck with dismay and terror the white inhabitants of the exposed 
frontiers. His natural statesmanship was illustrated at Greenville. 
On that occasion the double task involved upon him to deal with 
and control his confederate chiefs, and at the same time cope with 
Anthony Wayne. Although environed by these perplexities, he 
passed the ordeal, and carried off" honors only seconc^. to those which 
fell upon the representative of Washington's administration. He 
was surely a man endowed by nature with remarkable gifts. In the 
third campaign he met his superior in the invincible "Mad 
Anthony," and him he had to confront in the peaceful treaty ground 
at Greenville. Regarding him, Mr. Williams thus makes mention 
in the lecture (page 16,) above referred to: 

" Of Little Turtle, Col. Johnston writes: " Meshekunnaghriuoh, 
or the Little Turtle, was of mixed blood, half Mohican, half Miami. 
* * * * I knew him intimately — the gentleman 
of his race. He died at Fort Wayne, and was buried as he deserved, 
by the commanding officer, with all the honors of war due to his high 
character and rank." With great propriety, the spot which he so 
bravely defended against llarmar, in 1700, was selected as his burial 
place." 

The successor to Little Turtle wjis " Peshkowah," or as his name 
is signed in the treaty of 180.3, just copied, '' Richerville,'' or, as 
more familiarly known to the pioneers of the Maumee and Wabash 
valleys, John B. Richardsville. 



362 Fort Wayne — John B. Richa/rd/viUe. 

From the date of the treaty of Greenville, the Miamis remained at 
peace with the United States, finally realizing, from the sale of their 
fertile lan'is, much more than all the avails of their furs could have? 
under any possible supposition been worth. After the death of 
Little Turtle,* who had been their counsellor, leader, and war 
captain, ante and post-revolutionary, the chieftainship, being in the 
female line, fell into the hands of Peshkewah, or the Lyrx, a man 
better known on the frontiers as John B. Richardsville. Inheriting 
French blood, of the Metiff cast, from the father's side, he was a man 
well adapted to conduct the affairs of the Miamis during this peculiar 
period. Putting forth high powers as the Governor of a numerous 
tribe, who had a reputation for their warlike qualities, and with a 
strong feeling of self-interest, he secured the best terms in every 
negotation, enriching greatly both his tribe and himself. 

Agreeably to tradition, Peshkewah was born within the present 
limits of Fort Wayne, about 1761. This was locally the period of 
the Pontiac war, in which the western tribes followed the lead of 
of that energetic and intreprid Algonquin, in resisting the transfer 
of authority from the French to the English power. He was too 
young for any agency in this war, and the event has no further con- 
nection with the man than as it introduced him and his people to a 
new phasis of history. Braddock had been defeated in 1755. 
Qnebec surrendered in 1759; and by the treaty which followed, 
France forever struck her flag in Canada. But France had left an 
element in the land which could not be extracted by a treaty. The 
French population had extensively intermarried with the Indian 
females, and the whole lines of frontiers was composed almost entire- 
ly of this Metiff population. The influence of the Indian trade, that 
lever of power, was in their hands. They were almost exclusively 
acquainted with the Indian languages, and no negotations could be 
accomplished without their aid. Thus England, from the fall of 
Quebec to the outbreak of the American revolution, may be said to 
have worked on the frontiers with French hands. 

This is not the only great truth that belongs to this subject ; for 
America has also been obliged to employ the same influence among 
the Indian population up to a period scarcely now passed. It was 
in this condition of things that gave Peshkewah, and all of his class 
who were similarly situated, such influence on the frontiers. We 

*H. B. Schoolcraft, Part 5, pages 538, 529, 530. 



Fort W<M/7h6 — Johfi B. RichardvilU. 363 

can but allude to this period and tlu-se influences in calling atten- 
tion to the man. 

Within a dozen years of that time, the war of the American Revo- 
lution broke out, and the colonists found the western Indians as 
ready to take up the hatchet against them, as they formerly were 
against the English. In this feeling, as it was common to his tribe* 
together with others, Peshkewah naturally participated. As he was 
but nineteen at the close of the revolutionary war, he could have 
taken but little part in it. He was present, and assisted in Barmaid's 
defeat in 1790. 

Circumstances early brought young Peshkewah into notice ; his 
mother being a chiei'tainess, he became the leading chief. His talents 
were rather those of the civilian than the warrior. He was kind 
and humane to prisoners while the war lasted, and as soon as peace 
was restored he became a worthy citizen, and enjoyed the confidence 
of the whites to the fullest extent. He spoke both the French and 
the English languages ; and for a series of years, his house, which was 
eligibly situated on the banks of the St. Mary's, about four miles 
from Fort Wayne, was known as the abode of hospitality, where 
his friends and strangers were received with open hands. 

To these generous qualities he united a disposition strictly honest, 
a capacity for the transaction of business far above the ordinary 
class of aboriginal chiefs and rulers, and a diligence and forecast in 
the acquisition and the husbanding ot his property, which were as 
remarkable. In the negotiations of this tribe with the United States 
government lor the cession of the Miami lands, he was the leading 
and guiding spirit of his tribe ; and it is but justice to his memory 
to say, that he secured the best terms. 

Peshkewah, at the time of his death, is believed to have been the 
most wealthy man of the native race in America, the estimate of his 
property exceeding half a million dollars. A large part of this was 
in the best selected lands, reserved out of the original cessions of 
his tribe, and other real estate. He left nearly 8-00,000 in specie. 
This is the chief of whom it was said, on the occasion of the govern- 
ment feeling the general pressure for coin to meet its Indian annui- 
ties in lt<;iT-.'J8, that he oftered to loan the disbursing agent the 
amount required for his tribe at a moderate interest. 

A note appended to the lecture of Mr. Williams, relates, on the 
authority of the late Allen Hamilton, the following incident in In- 
dian life at Fort Wayne : 



364 Indian Life at Fort Wayne. 



" About 1792 a white man was bound to the stake for burning. 
The mother of the late principal chief of the Miamies, Eichardville 
(or Peshkewah) herself the daughter of a chief, a woman of great 
influence in the tribe, had made fruitless eflbrts to save him. The 
savages stood arouud eager for the cruel sacrifice, and the torch was 
ready to be applied. Eichardville, then a young man, had been 
designated as their future chief, but not yet installed. To him his 
mother appealed, and placing a knife in his hand, bade him assert 
at that moment his chieftainship. Rushing within the infuriated 
circle, he cut the cords that bound the white man. Though cha- 
grined at the escape of their victim, all applauded, as men, savage 
or civilized, will honor a bold and decided character, and his influ- 
ence and power were from that time established. The kind hearted 
Miami woman contrived to secrete the white man, sending him 
down the Maumee in a canoe, imder a cover of furs and peltries, in 
charge of some friendly Indians. Many years afterward, the chief, 
on a journey to Washington City, stopped at a town in Ohio. A 
man approached him, throwing his arms around his neck in grateful 
embrace. It was the rescued prisoner." 

Richardville made a will, bequeathing his property to his children 
and relations with even-handed justice. He had expressed a desire 
to prolong his life, but finding that the time of his departure drew 
nigh, he resigned himself with perfect composure. He remarked 
that it was ordered by the Great Spirit that all men must once die, 
and he was ready and felt willing to obey the mandate. He -died 
on the 13th of August, 1841, aged 80, Avithin a few miles of the 
place where he was born ; and it is a proof of his peaceful and do- 
mestic habits, that, with very few exceptions, his whole life had 
been passed upon the native domain of his tribe. His remains were 
deposited with religious ceremonies in the Catholic burial ground 
at Fort Wayne. 

It has been reserved for this place and chapter to give some 
details relating to points of local and historical interest not embod- 
ied in preceding pages. 

*' x\ceording to the statement of chief Eichardville, Mr. Peltier 
and others," says Mr. J. L. Williams, " the extreme point of land 
just below the mouth of the St. Joseph, now so attractive in rural, 
peaceful beauty, is said to have been the accustomed place for 
burning' prisoners." And General Cass, in his address July -1, 
1843, stated that, " for many years, during the frontier history of 
this place,(Ft.Wayne,)and region, the line of your canal was a bloody 
war-path, which has seen many a deed of horror; and this peaceful 
town has had its Moloch, and the records of human depravity 
furnish no more terrible examples of cruelty than Were ofl'ered at 
this shrine. The Miami Indians, our predecessors in the occupation 



Fort Wayne — Its EdaUishment. 365 



of this district, had a terrible institution whose origin and ol^ject 
have V»et*n hut in the darkness of aboriginal history, l)uL which was 
continued to a late period, and whose orgies were held upon the 
very spot where we now are. It was calleil the man-eating society, 
and il. was the duty of its associates to eat such prisoners as were 
preserved and delivered to them for that purpose." And ht-re 
occurs a resumption of notes, not given in the preceding part of 
this volume, relating to the visit and experience of General Wayne 
and his military successor at this point, Colonel Ilaintramck ; 
inasmuch as the events which occurred during tha military admluis 
tration of these othcers are of local historical value." 

On the 14th of h^epteraber, 1794, the defences at Fort Dehauce 
having been conipleted, the legion under General Wayne began their 
march for the Miami villages at tlie head of the Maumee, where 
they arrived at -J o'clock, i'. M, Sep. 17; and on the following day 
the commander-in-chief reconnoitered the ground and determined 
on the s|)ot to build a garrison. The following are extracts from 
the journal of Wayne's campaign : 

-'■('iiinp Miami Vilhujes, ISlh Sepl.^ 1794. — Four deserters from 
the British came to us this day, and bring the information that the 
Imlians are encamped eiglit miles below the British fort to the 
number of IGOO. 

" '20/// Sept. — General Barber, with his command, arrived in camp 
about 9 o'clock this morning with 558 kegs of flour, each contain- 
ing 100 pounds. 

" 23f/ Sflpt. — Four deserters from the British garrison arrived at 
our camp : they mention tliat the Indians are still embodied on the 
Miami (.Maumee) nii;e miles below the British fort; that they are 
somewhat diviiled in opinion — some are for peace, othersj'or war. 

24///. S>'pt. — This day the work commenced on the garrison, which 
I am apprehensive will take some time to complete. A keg of 
whiskey, C"niaining ten gallons, was purchased this ilay for eighty 
dollars, a sheep for ten dollars Three dollars was offered for one 
pint of salt, but it could not be obtained for less than six. 

20//i Sept. — McCleland, one of our spies, with a small party, came 
in this evening from Fort defiance, who brings information that 
the enemy aie troublesome about the garrison, and that they have 
killed some of our men under the walls of tliC Ibrt. .Sixteen 
Indians were seen to-day near- this place; a small party went in pur- 
suit of them. I have not heard what disci iveiies they have made. 

" 4/// Oct. — This morning we had the hardest frost I ever saw in 
the middle of Dccemln-r : it was like a small snow; ther<' was ici- 
in our camp kettles three fourths of an inch thick ; the fatigu»'s go 
on with velocity, considoriiig the rations the troops were obliged to 
live on. 



366 Fort Wayne— Its Establishment. 

'^ Qth Oct. — Plenty and quietness; the volunteers engaged to 
work on the garrison for which they are to receive three gills of whis- 
key per man per day. Their employment is digging the ditch and 
filling up the parapet. 

"8^7i Oct. — The troops drew but half rations of flour this day. 
The cavalry and other horses die very fast, not less than four or 
five per day. 

" 9/A Oct. — The volunteers have agreed to build a block house in 
front of the garrison. 

''11/7a Oct. — A Canadian (Rozelie) with a flag arrived this even- 
ing; his business was to deliver up three prisoners in exchange for 
his brother, who was taken on the 20th of August ; he brings infor- 
mation that the Indians are in council with Girty and McKee near 
the fort of Detroit, and that all the tribes are for peace except the 
Shawanees, who are determined to prosecute the war. 

" 16^// Oct. — Nothing new; weather wet and cold; wind from N. 
W. Troops healthy in general. 

" 19///! Oct. — This day the troops not ordered for labor ; being 
the first day for four weeks, and accordingly attended divine 
service." 

On the morning of the 22d of October, 1794, the garrison was in 
readiness, and Lieutenant Colonel Hamtramck assumed command 
of the post, with the following sub-legions : Captain Kingsbury's 
Ist ; Captain Greaton's 2d ; Captains Spark's and Reed's 3d : Cap- 
tain Preston's 4th, and Captain Porter's of artillery ; and after firing 
fifteen rounds of cannon, Colonel Hamtramck gave it the name of 
Fort Wayne. 

On the 28th of October, General Wayne, with the main body of the 
regulars, took up his line of march for Fort Greenville, arriving at 
that point on the 2d of November. Colonel Hamtramck remained 
in command at Fort Wayne until the 17th of May, 1796 ; and 
though nothing of a very important nature transpired during that 
time, yet there is much of interest to be gathered from the many 
letters of Colonel H. written from the fort, and addressed to Gen- 
erals Wayne and Wilkinson — these letters having first been made 
public in the American pioneer, in 1843, and re-published in Brice's 
History of Fort Wayne : 

"Fort Wayne, December 29, 1794. 

" Sir : Yesterday a number of chiefs of the Chippeways, Ottawas, 
Sacs and Pottawatamies arrived here witli the two Lassalles, 
(Jacques and Antoine.) It appears that the Shawanees, Delawares 
and Minmis remain still under the influence of McKee ; but Ltisalle 
thinks they will be compelled to come into the measures of the 



Fo7't Wayne— MH-^^. 367 

other Indians. After the chiefs have rested a day or two, I will 
send them to headquarters.'' 

" Fort Wayne, December 29, 1794. 
" Sir : Since my last letter to you of the present date, two 
war chiefs have arrived from the Miami nation, and inform 
me that their nation will be here in a few days, from 
whence they will proceed to Greenville. They also bring the intel- 
ligence that the remaining tribes of savages acceding to the preva- 
lent wish for peace, and collecting for the purpose the chiefs of 
their nations, who, it is supposed, will make their appearance at 
this post about the same time the Miamis may come forward." 

" Fort Wayne, December 13, 1795. 

" The issues to the Indians would be very inconsiderable this 
winter, if it was not tor about ninety old women and children, with 
some very old men. who live near us, and have no other mode of 
subsisting but by garrison. I have repeatedly tried to get clear of 
them, but without success." 

-' Fort Wayne, January 13, 1T96. 

" About ninety old women and children have been victualled by 
the garrison. I have, yesterday, given them five days provisions, 
and told them that it was the last they could have until spring. 
(I was obliged to do so, because, from calculation I have no 
more flour than will last me until spring. But, sir, if other supplies 
could be got by land I would consider it politic to feed these poor 
creatures, who will sutler very much for want of subsistence. 

(To General Wilkinson.) March 28, 1796. 

" I am out of wampum. I will be very much obliged to you to 
send me some, for speaking to an Indian without it is like consult- 
a lawyer without a fee/' 

(To General Wilkinson.) April 5. 1796. 

''Little Turtle arrived yesterday, to whom I delivered your mes- 
sage. His answer was. to present his compliments to you : that he 
was very glad of the invitation, as he wished very much to see Gen- 
eral Wilkinson, but it w;is impossible for him to go to Greenville at 
present, as he had ordered all his young men to repair to a rendez- 
vous, in order, when asseml)led, to choose a place for a permanent 
residence; that, as soon as that object shall be accomplished, he 
would go to see you, which, he said, would be by the time he hears 
from you again." 

(To General Wilkinson.) - April 18, 179G. 

"The bearer is Captain Blue Jacket, who, at your request, is now 
going to (ireenville. Blue Jacket is used to good comjiany. and is 
always treatetl with more aMention than other Indians. He appears 
to be very well disposed, and I think him sincere." 



368 Fort TF«y7i6— 1796— 1810-11. 



" For a period of sixteen years subsequent to the treaty of Green- 
ville, agreeable relations were maintained, by the United States, be- 
tween the Miamis and some other tribes represented at that famous 
treaty. During this time the Indians seemed mainly to have be- 
taken themselves to the forests and prairies in pursuit of game ; and 
the result was that a considerable traffic was steadily carried on 
with the Indians, by fur traders of Fort Wayne and Vincennes, and 
at different trading posts which were established on the borders of 
the Wabash river and its tributaries. The furs and peltries which 
were obtained from the Indians, were generally transported to De- 
troit., The skins were dried, compressed and secured in bales- each 
bale weighing about one hundred pounds. A pirogue or boat, that 
was sufficient to carry forty bales, required the labor of four men to 
manage it on its voyage. In favorable stages of the Wabash river, 
such a vessel, under the management of skillful boatmen, was pro- 
pelled fifteen or twenty miles a day, against toe current. Alter 
ascending the river Wabash and the Little river to the portage near 
Fort Wayne, the traders carried their bales or packs over the port- 
age, to the head of the river Maumee, where they were again placed 
in pirogues, or in keel boats, to be transported to Detroit. At this 
place the furs and skins were exchanged for blankets, guns, knives, 
powder, bullets, intoxicating liquors, etc., with which the traders 
returned to their several posts." — Dillon'' s History of Indiana, or 
Brice's History of Fort Wayne. 

In 1810, Genei-al William H. Harrison, the governor of Indiana 
territory, was made acquainted with a plot that was maturing for 
the surprise and massacre of Fort Wayne, Detroit, Chicago, Vin- 
cennes and St. Louis. Tecumseh, and his brother the Prophet 
" were moving with the slow but sure action of a volcano ; and the 
internal heat of their efibrts was continually made the more appar- 
ent by the rising cinders cast up in the endeavor here and there to 
secretly draw the different tribes of the west and south within their 
circle, and by other means, equally wily and surreptitious, to bring 
their plans to bear for the overthrow of the whites of the north 
west." 

Nothwithstanding these machinations resulted in overt acts of 
hostility, including the bloody conflict of Tippecanoe, a few days 
after the latter event, on the 22d of November, 1811. the period for 
the annual meeting of the Indians to receive their payments arrived, 
and they began to assemble in'great numbers to receive their allotted 
portions. Col. John Johnston was then Indian Agent at Ft. Wayne. 
Many of the chiefs in attendance claimed their respective portions 
of the annuity equal to that of the most peaceful of the tribes — 
representing that the Prophet's followers had him in confinement, 



Ijocatkyji of the Old Council House. 369 

and purposed taking his life ; that he was chargeable with all their 
troubles ; together with many other stories of a similar character 
all, in the main, untrue, especially as regarded the Prophet's con- 
finement, for, at that time, he was at full liberty on the Mississin- 
ncwa. But the stories presented to Col. Johnston had the desired 
ertect, and he was induced thereby to inform the government that 
the Indians were all favorable to peace ; and yet, says McAiee, " in 
most of the nations here assembled, a British faction was boiling to 
the brim, and ready to flow dn our devoted frontiers, wherever the 
British agents might think proper to increase the fire of their hos- 
tility." 

" The old council house was located about the spot now occu- 
pied by Michael Iledekin, Es(j. It was a two story log building, 
about sixty feet long, by twenty wide; and stood but a short dis- 
tance to the southwest of the fort. It was in this building that the 
agent lived. And it was often an interesting as well as paintul sight 
to witness the tall red men, with their painted faces, gaily j)lumed 
with feathers and trinkets ; their skins, in some instances, barely 
covering their loins, in others a blanket wrapped about them, sittino- 
in groups here and tliere, or standing at some point recounting their 
adventures or misfortunes ; or, having drank 'tire-water," freely, were 
venting their savage ferocity upon each other in hard words or death 
blows with the tomahawk or scalping knife ; the squaws wanderino- 
about with their pappooses to their backs, or sitting about with their 
Indian husbands, awaiting their turn to receive their annuity, or in 
.-ume way obtain a little lavor, if only a pipe or loaf ot wheat bread, 
at the hands of some pale face or friend. Such was litie in the vicin- 
ity of the coimcil house and fort here during portions of many years 
subsequent to the treaty of Cireenville." — Jiricts Jli.stun/ of' Fort 
\Vaiini',p-l()0. 

After the surrender of Mull at Detroit, Tecumseh devised a 
scheme (ante, p 133,) for the siege of Fort Wayne and Fort Harri- 
son. This tlemonstration was made in September, 1812. The gar- 
rison at Fort Wayne was under the command of Captain lihea, 
whose habits of intemperance dis<jualified him for the place ; and 
during a period of two weeks the safety of the fort, principally 
owing to the incompetency of the commander, was in Jeopardy. An 
express had been sent to General Harrison requesting re-enforce- 
ments. One day a white man and four Indians arrived at the fort 
on horseback, " in full yell." It was the Iiulian yell of triumph. 
The white man, who was foremost, proved to be Major William 
Oliver, and accompanied by four friendly Shawanee Indians, the 
brave Logan among the number. The -garrison had been for more 

24 



370 The gallant Major Oliver reaches Ft. Wayne. 

than a fortnight in a state of suspense ; not knowing whether the 
express to General Harrison had gotten through or not, and every 
day under the apprehension that the British force would arrive. 
All wei-e on tip-toe to hear the news ; William Oliver and his little 
party had arrived in defiance of five hundred Indians — had broken 
their ranks and reached the fort in safety. He reported that about 
two thousand volunteers had assembled in Kentucky for the relief 
of Genei-al Hull at Detroit, and had marched to Cincinnati. There 
they were informed that Hull had surrendered, and deemed it un- 
necessary to march any further in that direction. Harrison having 
received the dispatch from the agent (Major B. F. Stickney,) at Ft. 
Wayne, had determined to march to its relief. Ohio was raising 
volunteers. Eight hundred were then assembled at St. Mary's, 
Ohio, sixty miles south of Fort Wayne, and intended to march to 
the relief of the fort in three or four days. At Cincinnati great 
fears were entertained that the fort had been captured, and its in- 
mates massacred. When the question arose, as to how the condi- 
tion of Fort Wayne was to be ascertained, the stoutest hearts in the 
army quailed. 

Oliver was then a young man of about twenty-three years of age; 
possessed the true spirit, and was at the time sutler to Fort Wayne. 
Previous to any knowledge of the hostile intentions of the Indians, 
Oliver had gone to Cincinnati on business. He called on Governor 
Harrison, and made a tender of his services, individually, to obtain 
the necessary information. Harrison thought the danger too great 
and endeavored to dissuade him from making the attempt ; but he 
had determined to accomplish it, or lose his life in the eftbrt. When 
Governor Harrison shook hands with him, lie observed that he 
" should not see him again." A man by the name of Worthington, 
an Indian Commissioner of the time, embarked with Oliver in this 
adventurous undertaking, placing themselves at the head of about 
eighty whites, forty of whom, so perilous seemed the task before 
them, after a mai'ch of about thi-ee days, returned home. 

Having pursued their course, with care, until within some twen- 
ty-four miles of the fort, a council was called to consider the expe- 
diency of a further advance, when it was concluded best for all to 
remain behind except Oliver, Logan and the other Indian attendants. 
On the following morning, with their horses, they continued their 
way, "with the common wariness of Indians and without any remark- 
able occurrence, until they came within some four miles of the fort. 



The gallant Major Oliver reaches Ft. Wayne. 371 

Oliver had determined to enter the fort in broad daylight." They 
now began an examination of the gronnd with great precaution, de- 
termining to ascertixin, if possible, what movement had taken place, 
and the exact locality of the Indians. The keen eye of Logan now 
discovered that the enemy was concealed along the road, with a 
view to cut off any re-enforcements that might attempt to reach the 
garrison. 

Tjeaving the main road, tiiey now moved cautiously across to the 
Maumee river, whither, leaving their horses in a thicket, they ad- 
vanced on foot towards the fort, in order to get a view of it, and to 
ascertain, if possible, whether it still held out against the besiegers. 
Being fully satistiod on this point, they again repaired to the thicket 
where they had left their horses, remounted, and soon struck the 
main road again. The moment of greatest peril and determination 
had now come. The fort was to be gained at the expense of life it- 
self; and putting whip to their horses, Oliver and his faithful 
Shawauee companions started in full speed for the fort. What 
was most remarkable, the moment of the attempt proved to be 
the only safe one that had for some days presented itself, as 
though a kind providence had opened the way for the safe arrival of 
the party to cheer the inmates of the beleaguered garrison. First 
reaching the gate of the esplanade, and finding it inaccessible, they 
descended the river bank, and were soon admitted by the northern 
gate. 

01ivei*'s story was soon told. When the volunteers of Ohio, 
assembled at St. Mary's, learned the extent of the Indian force 
about Fort Wayne, they deemed it imprudent to advance with so 
small a force, and concluded to await the arrival of the Kentuckians, 
thus subjecting the garrison to a still longer state of suspense. The 
anxiety was intense; and it was through extreme good fortune, and 
mere accident, that tlie fort was enabled to hold out, under its inca- 
pable management. Oliver, though a private citizen, was now the 
most eiiicient man in the fort. Having jtrepared a letter announcing 
to General Harrison his safe arrival at tlie fort, and its i)t'rilous sit- 
uation, Oliver immediately started his Indian companions back with 
the letter, while he determined to take his chances with the inmates 
of the fort. Seeking an opportune moment, Logan and his com- 
panions left the fort safely, but were soon observed and pursued. 
Tlieir exultant shouts soon revealed to the inmates of tin- "garrison 



372 Relief Approaching the Besieged. 

that they had outstripped their pursuers, and passed the lines 
unharmed. 

The Indians now again began a furious attack upon the fort, but the 
little garrison bravely met the assault, and were, in a few days more, 
enabled to hail the approach of the army. 

On the morning of the Gth of September, the army began its march 
for Fort Wayne, encamping that evening in the woods some twelve 
miles from Piqua, Early on the morning of the 7th the army re- 
sumed its march. This day, says one of their number, (John D. 
White, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana,) "we made fifteen miles, and enr 
camped on a branch, three and a half miles this side of St. Mary's 
river. During the 8th we only marched to St. Mary's, where we 
lay till next day. On this evening we were joined by two hundred 
mounted volunteers, under Colonel Richard M. Johnson, who had 
volunteered for thirty days, on hearing that Fort Wayne was be- 
sieged. Wednesday, the 9th, we marched eighteen miles, to what 
is called Shane's crossing of St. Mary's. Here we overtook a regi- 
ment of eight hundred men from Ohio, under Colonels Adams and 
Hawkins, who had started on to the relief of Fort Wayne. On arriv- 
ing at this point, Logan and four other Sliawanees, offered their ser- 
vices to General Harrison as spies, and were accepted. Previous to 
our arrival, Logan had gone on in disguise, and passing through the 
Camp of the besieging party, had ascertained their number to be 
about fifteen hundred. Logan also went to the i'ort, and encouraged 
the soldiers to hold on as relief was at hand. Colonels Adams and 
Hawkins having joined our army, we now had a force of about 
three thousand five hundred. Friday morning we were under march- 
ing orders after an early breakfast. It had rained, and the guns 
were damp; we were ordered to discharge them, and reload, as we 
were then getting into the vicinity of the enemy, and knew not how 
soon we might be attacked. A strong detacinnent of spies under 
Captain James Suggett, of Scott county, marched considerably 
ahead of the army. Indications of the enemy having advanced 
from their position at Fort Wayne, for the purpose of watching the 
movements of our army, were manifest, and Captain Suggett came 
upon the trail of a large party, which h6 immediately pursued* 
After following the trail for some distance, he was fired on by an 
Indian, who had secreted himself in a clump of bushes so near to 
Suggett that the powder burnt his clothes, but the ball missed him. 
The Indian jumped from his covert and attempted to escape, but 



Relief Approricliefi the Besieged. 873 

Androw Jolinson, of Scott, shot him. On the return of Captain 
Suofgctt's party, orders were issued for the men to turn out and 
make a breastwork around the encanipniont, which order was 
promptly obeyed, and before dark the same was fortified by a breast- 
work, made by cutting down trees aud piling them on each other. 
A strong picket guard was detailed and posted at a considerable 
distance from tlic line. After tattoo, at 9 o'clock, we lay down; 
alter which, the officer of the night came around to give us the 
watch-word, which was "fight on." (The watch-word is given to 
tlio sentinel as well as the army, in order that, in case of a night 
attack, and the sentinels having to run into camp, may be distin- 
guished from the enemy by it.) Orders were given, that in case of 
two guns being fired in quick succession, the soldiers were to re- 
pair to the breastwork. From every indication we had strong 
reasons for believing that we would be attacked before day. We lay 
with our guns on our arms and our cartridge boxes under our heads. 
About ten o'clock, just as the soldiers were in the enjoyment of 
" tired nature's sweet restorer,'' they were aroused by the firing of 
two guns by the sentinels, and the drums beat the alarm. In a 
moment all were at the breastwork, ready to receive the enemy. 
The Indians were around us, aud we were in momentary expecta- 
tion of an onset. At last all was calm again, and we were permitted 
to rest. But just as we were in the sweet embraces of sleep, we were 
again aroused by the firing of a number of guns, and again we were 
as prompt in repairing to our posts. We now stood a considerable 
time, and all became quiet again. At length day dawned, and the 
guards wore relieved. We ascertained afterwards, from Indians taken 
prisoners that they came from their encampment with the design of 
making a night attack on us, but on finding us so well prepared to 
receive them, they declined prosecuting their designs. Without being 
able to get around the entire encampment before daylight nextmom- 
ing, the Indians returned to their own lines with the word that 
''^ Keniuck was coming as numerous as the trees." 

*' September 10 we expected to reach Fort Wayne, but thought, in 
all probal)ility, we should have to fight our way, for the Indians lay 
at what was called the lilack Swamp, \\\e miles this side of the fort,* 
immediately on our road. We started after an early breakfast, and 
marched with much caution. From St. Mary's we had moved in 
two lines, one on the riglit and the other on the left of the road at a 
distance of about one hundred yards therelrom, while the wagons 
kept the road. A short distance in advance of their camp, at the 



374 Fort Wayne Relieved. 



swamp, the spies returned with information that they were there, 
prepared to give us battle. A halt was made, and the line of battle 
formed. Colonel Hawkins, of the Ohio mounted volunteers, had 
left the lines, and gone some distance from the road. Being partly 
concealed by a clump of busl)es. one of his men taking him for an 
Indian fired at him and shot him through. The ball entered be- 
tween the shoulders, and came out at the breast — which, how 
ever, did not prove mortal. AVe again took up the line of march, 
and in a short time came in sight of the smoke of the camp of the 
enemy.'' 

At the first gray of the morning of the iOth of September, the 
distant halloos of the disappointed savages revealed to the anxious 
inmates of the fort the glorious news of the approach of the army. 
Great clouds of dust conld be seen from the fort, rolling up in the 
distance, as the valiant soldiery, under General Harrison, moved for- 
word to the rescue of the garrison ; and soon after daybreak the 
army stood before the fort. The Indians had beat a retreat to the 
eastward and northward, and the air about the old fort resounded 
with the glad shouts of welcome to General Harrison and the brave 
boys of Ohio and Kentucky. — Brice's History of Fort Waytie. 

The Indians had mainly fled. Some, however, were courageous 
enough to remain until a iew moments before the army reached the 
fort, who were pursued by the Ohio horsemen, but without success. 
Previous to the commencement of the siege, there were several 
dwellings near the fort, forming a handsome little village ; but 
it was now, on the arrival of the army, in ruins — having been 
burned down by the Indians, together with the United States fac- 
tory. The occupants of the dwellings surrounding the fort, as the 
siege began, sought refuge within the garrison, ^vhere they remained 
in safety till the army arrived. 

The fort, during the siege, was well supplied with provisions. 
There was a good well of water within the enclosure, traces of which 
are yet to be seen, just at the tdge of the south side of the canal. 

Of the fort at this period, which was the same built by the order 
of General Wayne, in 1794, Captain McAfee said: " It is dehght- 
fully situated, on an eminence on the south bank of the Miami of 
the Lake, immediately below the formation of that river by the 
junction of the St. Mary's from the southwest with the St. Joseph's 
'from the north. It is well constructed of block houses and picket- 
ing, but could not resist a British force, as there are several eminen- 
ces on the south side, from which it could be commanded by a six 
or nine pounder." 

During the siege, the garrison lost but three men. From subse- 



General Harrison'' s Movemients. .SYT) 

quent information, it was believed that the Indian loss was about 
twenty-live. Eight were seen to fall. One Indian was killed at a 
distimce of three hundred yards, while standing in the 8t. Mary's 
river. A soldier by the name of King, with a long, heavy rifle, 
fired, and the ball took effect in the back of the savage, between his 
shouUk-rs, and he foil into the water. 

The second day following the arrival of the army at Fort Wayne, 
General Harrison sent out two detachments, with the view of des- 
troying the Indian villages in the region of country lying some niiles 
around Fort Wayne, the first division being composed of the regi- 
ments under Colonels Lewis and Allen, and Captain Garrard's troop 
of horse, under General Payne, accompanied by General Harrison. 
The second division, under Colonel Wells, accompanied by a battal- 
ion of his own regiment under Major Davenport, (Scott's regiment,) 
the mounted battalion under Johnson, ami the mounted Ohio men 
under Adams. These expeditions were all successful ; and after the 
return of the divisions under Payne and Wells, General Harrison 
sent them to destroy Little Turtle Town, some twenty miles north- 
west of the fort, with orders not to molest the buildings formerly 
erected by the United States for the benefit of Little Turtle, whose 
friendship for the Americans had ever been firm after the treaty of 
Greenville. Colonel Simrall most faithfully performed the task 
assigned him, and on the evening of the 19th returned to the fort. 

In addition to these movements, (says Mr. Brice,) General Har- 
rison took the precaution to remove all the undergrowth in the 
locality surrounding the fort, extending towards the conllueuce of 
the St. Joseph and St. Mary, to where now stands Eudisill's mill, 
and westward as far as St. Mary, to the point where now stands the 
Fort Wayne College; thence southeast to about the point of the 
residence of the late Allen Hamilton, and to the east down the 
ilaumee a short distance. And so well cleared was the ground, in- 
cluding a very large part of the entire limits of the present site of 
the city of Fort Wayne, that it was said by those who were here at 
that early day, and to a later period, a sentinel "on the bastions of 
the fort looking westward, could see a rabbit running across the 
grounds as far as so small an object was discernible to the naked eye." 
The seclusive points were thus cue off, and the Indians now had no 
longer any means of concealing their approach upon the fort. Some 
thirty or forty acres of what is now known as the Cole farm, extend- 
ing to the junction of the rivers, and just opposite the Maumee, was 



3*76 Colonel Johnson again visits Fort Wayne. 

then known as the Public Meadow, which of course was then, as it 
had long before been, a considerable open space. The soldiers were 
thus readily enabled to observe the approach of any hostile move- 
ment against the fort, and to open the batteries, with formidable ef- 
fect, upon any advance that might be made against the garrison, 
from any direction. 

On the 5th of June, 1813, the regiment under Colonel Eichard 
M. Johnson being then at Fort Meigs, took up its line of march for 
Fort Wayne. When the troops reached Shane's crossing on the St. 
Mary's, about forty miles from Fort Wayne, they were halted and 
drilled for some time, and here remained over night. Heavy rains 
having but recently fallen, the St. Mary's was found impassable ; and 
on the following morning a rude bridge.was formed over this stream 
by felling trees across it, upon which the army crossed with their 
baggage and guns, while their horses were gotten over by swimming 
them by the side of the fallen timber. The remainder of the route 
to Fort Wayne proved very difficult ; " all the flats' and marshes," 
says McAfee, "being covered with water, and the roads very miry." 
Reaching the fort on the 7th of June, it was found that the boats 
had all gained the common landing place, at the base of the hill, 
just below the garrison, in safety ; but one, which had stranded on a 
sand bar a short distance above, and in sight of the fort ; and while 
attempting to get the boac off, the boatmen were fired upon by some 
Indians lurking near, and two of the boatmen killed, while the 
third, in attempting to reach the shore was drowned. 

Arriving a little in advance of the regiment, Colonel Johnson 
and staff, as soon as it was possible to get ready, mounted their 
horses and crossed to the boat. The Indians at once fired upon 
their advance, and then retreated. The spies having now suggested 
that the Indians were considerably stronger than the party imder 
Colonel Johnson, a pursuit was deferred until the arrival of the 
regiment, when a chase was immediately commenced and continued 
for some ten miles; but rain beginning to fall heavily, the party was 
compelled to return to the fort, without having gained sight of the 
Indians. Further pursuit was made in the direction of the south- 
east shore of Lake Michigan; and after several days employed in 
this service, discovered the Indian villages everywhere deserted, the 
warriors being in the vicinity of Maiden. 

After a few days stay at Fort Wayne, the regiment under John- 
son proceeded down the Maumee, with an escort of provisions, to 



Fi>r1 IRPVr///?.,?— 1818-10. 877 



Fort Defiance. The provisions were placed in boats, with a number 
of men to man tliem, wliile the troops continued their way along the 
road oponcil liy General Winchester, on the north side ot the Mau- 
mee, ent-amping every night with the boats. Reaching Fort Defi- 
ance, Colonel Johnson, in pursuance of a suggestion made by Gen- 
eral Harrison, was contemplating a movement against the onemv 
upon the river Raisin; but wliile arranging the plans of this move- 
ment, an express arrived from General Clay, commanding at Fort 
Meigs, with information that the British and Indians threatened to 
invest that place again, and with a request that Colonel Johnson 
would march his regiment there immediately for its relief. Orders 
to march were promj>tly given ; and such was the zeal and activity 
of both oflicers and men, that in half an hour they were all ready 
to move, and commenced crossing the Maumee opposite the fort. 
The heads of the column were then drawn up in close order, and 
the Colonel, in a short and impressive address, instructed them in 
their duties. At ten o'clock on the same night the regiment arrived 
opposite Fort Meigs, " without molestation," says ^["Afee, " and 
encamped in the open plain between the river and the hill on which 
the British batteries had been erected.'' Colonel Johnson's subse- 
quent movements and gallant services have been noticed in previous 
pages. 

In his History of Fort Wayne, Mr. Brice says : " The old fort, 
as originally built by order of General Wayne, in 1794, had with- 
stood the ravages of time, and the efforts of th Indians to destroy 
it remai-kably well. From the period of General Hamtramck's oc- 
cupation of it, after the departure of General Wayne, to its final 
evacuation, in 1819, it had been in charge of many commandants. 
After the resignation of Captain Rhea, in 1S1:>, Captain Hugh 
Moore assumed command ; who. in 181.S, was superseded by Joseph 
Jenkinson. In the spring of 1H14, Major Whistler became its com- 
mandant, who, in turn, was superseded by Major Josiah H. Vose, 
who continued in command until its final ev;icuation, 19th of A|>ril, 
1S19 " In 1814, while under command of Major Whistler, the post 
was repaired and strengthened. 

"In l^ln," continues Mr. Brice, ''a few houses began to apj»ear 
some distance from the fort, but usually in range of the basiions, 
so that in case of attack tliey might easily be destroyed, or the 
enemy driven away. One of these was built about the center of 
what is now Barr street, near the corner of Columbia, which, some 



3Y8 Fort Way}ie and Allen County. 



years aftorwavtls. being removed iroin its former locality, formed a 
part of the old Wasliingtou Uall building, on tlie south-west eornor 
of Columbia and Barr streets, destroyed by iire in 1858. 

" Among those Mho ean\e to this point in 18l.">, were Mr. Bourie, 
grandfather of L. T. Bourie ; Pr. Turner, Dr. Samuel Smith, from 
Lancaster, Ohio; and John P. Hedges returned hero from Cincin- 
nati, whither, .and to Bowling Ureeu. Kentucky, he had gone after 
tlie battle ot the Thames. The following year (ISIG) Dr. Trevitt 
came. 

Allen count}' was named at tlie suggestion of General Tipton, in 
honor of Colonel John Allen, of Kentucky, a distinguislied lawyer, 
who met his death at the massacre of the River Raisin. The 
comity presents the following area : 

Square miles t)54.o5 

No. of acres 413,607.08 

''In 18U), Indiana having been admitted as a State, in compliance 
with au act of Congress, this part of the State, then a portion of 
Knox county, was represented by John Badolet. John Heneiiel, 
John Johnson, AVilliam Polk and Benjamin Parke, all now deceased. 
The seat of government of Knox county wa^ at A'incennes, which 
had for several years been the capital of the Indiana Territory; and 
all judicial matters relating to the vicinity ot Fort Wayne were 
settled at Vinconnes up to 1818, when this portion of the State, 
extending to Lake Michigan, was embraced in Randolph county, oi 
which Winchester was the county seat up to the formation of Allen 
county, in 18"23. Among those engaged in the Indian trade at this 
point, and at what is now South Bend in 1821, were Francis Com- 
paret, with the Pottawotamies, at the latter place, and Alexis 
Coquill.ard, with the Miamife, at the former. William G. and George 
W. Ewing arrived here in 1822, and began to trade with the Indians. 
En route tor the jNIississippi, General Lewis Cass, and the Indi.an 
historian. 11. R. Schoolcraft, made a short stop at this point in June, 
1822, reaching here in a canoe by way of the Maumee, from Detroit, 
whence their frail vessel was hauled across tlie Portage to Little River, 
from whence they proceeded on their journey to the Father of 
Waters."' 

In May, 182*2, a land office was established in Fort Wayne, and 
Joseph Holm.an, of W.ayne county, was appointed Register, and 
Captain Samuel C. Vance, Receiver. On the 22d of October, 1823, 
a public sale of the lands in the district commenced, the minimum 
price being fixed at SI. 25 per acre. At this sale. Messrs. McCorkle, 
ot Piqua, Ohio, and Barr, of Baltimore, Maryland, became the pur- 
chasers of that portion ol the>city marked on the maps "Old Plat 
of Fort Wayne.'' The purchasers reserved suitable lots for church, 



F'ort Wdync and All<n Count ij. '.\1 



school and burial purposes, to be donated when required for those 
BBVoral UKC'H. The late Judge Hanna «ubHe(|iiently became the pur 
chaser of the interest of Barr ami McCorkle. John VV. Dawson, 
Esq., in his l^'orL Wayne '/'im/'s in 18.">8, said: "In the old school 
house, many of those, then young, but now past middle lile who yet 
live here, muny dea<l, and others absent, had their early training for 
usofulnes; and many there experienced that joy only once known 
in a life-time; while, perhaps, nearly every teacher, who there disci- 
plined the youthful mind, has gone to his final account, and soon 
here to be entirely forgotten. This old scliooi house was built of 
brick, in iS'Jf), and was then <piite large enough tor all needed pur- 
poses. It was only one story in height, and served, for many 
years, not only as a school house, but as a place of religious worship, 
town meetings, Masonic installations, political speeches, &c. J. P. 
Hedges was among the first teachers in this old pioneer school house. 
Henry Cooper, Esq., is claimed as the first school teacher of the 
place." Under the authority of an act of the Indiana Legislature of 
1823, the county of Allen was organized, and in 1H:24 the seat of 
justice established at P^ort Wayne. The following is a list of the 
first officers elected : Anthony L. Davis, Clerk ; Allen Hamilton, 
Sheriff; Samuel Hanna and Benjamin Ciishman, Associate Judges; 
Joseph Holman, Treasurer; H. B. McKeen, Assessor; W. T. 
Daviss. Overseer of the Poor; K. Hars, Inspector of Elections; 
Israel Taylor, Joseph Troutner and Moses Scott, Fence Viewers. 

The following forms the list of commissioned Justices of the 
Peace of Allen county, for 1872: 

Wnync TownxJiip (tnd ('ill/, J&mes P2. Graham ; A'/"i/ts, II. Bitten- 
ger, William Stewart. Samuel C. Freeman, and Daniel Kyan ; Aboit, 
Simon B. Stouder; Luk-e, Henry Keeler; Eel Hirer, William B. 
Shoaf ; Perrii, Henry Wilkison and Wm. J. Mayo ; Ceihir t'reck, I. 
W. Beard; iSl. Josep/i, John Brown; Milf/n, Daniel M. Frisby; 
Spri/if/ field, Francis Cosgrove and Nathan B. Hale; Scipio, H. W. 
Hide; Mdumeo, Robert B.Shirley; .A/' a-.so«. Frederick Mead and 
John McMillan; JeffevHon^ Francis Roy and John Nail; Monroe. 
William Dickinson and A. A. Baker; Mndisou, Silas Work and 
Thomas Mcintosh : M<iii(:n, Harvey K. Turner and Hiram Coleman ; 
Fleamni, M. Mineheart; La/ai/elle, Henry S. Kelsey and John A. 
Bowser; Adm/is^ Samuel H. Evelan<l, and John Dougal ; Wn.sh- 
ington^ Ephraim Irey. 



380 List of County and City Officials. 

County Officers. — Clerk, Wm. S. Edsall; Auditor. Henry J. 
Rudisill ; Treasurer, John Ring ; Sheriff, Chas. A. Zolling-er ; Re- 
corder, John M. Koch ; County Commissioners, John Begue. John 
C. Davis and Jacob Hillegas ; Prosecuting Attorney, Edward 
O'Rourke, (Joseph S. France, Prosecuting Attorney elect :) Surveyor, 
W. H. Goshorn ; Coroner, John P. Waters; School Examiner, 
James H. Smart ; Court House Janitor, A. M. Webb. 

The first and last city officers of Fort Wayne are given below — 
beginning with the organization of the municipal government, in 
1840, and closing with the current year : 

1840— Mayor, Geo. W. Wood; Recorder, F. P. Randall; Attor- 
ney, F. P. Randall ; Treasurer, Geo. F. Wright ; High Constable, 
Samuel S. Morss ; Collector, Samuel S. Morss ; Assessor, Robert 
E. Fleming ; Market Master, James Post : Street Commissioner, 
Joseph H. McMaken ; Chief Engineer, Samuel Edsall ; Lumber 
Measurer, John B. Cocanour. Aldermen, Wm. Rockhill, Thomas 
Hamilton, Madison Sweetser, Samuel Edsall, Wm. S. Edsall, Wm. 
L. Moon. 

Officers of the Fort Wayne City Government for 1872, 
— Mayor, Franklin P. Randall ; Clerk, Sam. P. Freeman ; Treasurer, 
John A. Droegemeyer ; Civil Engineer, Charles S, Brockeuridgc ; 
Chief Engineer of Fire Dei^artment, Thomas Mannix ; Market 
Master, Wm. Schneider ; Street Commissioner, B. L. P. Willard ; 
Marshal, Chas. Uplegger ; Chief of Police, M. Singleton; Couu- 
cilmen, O. P. Morgan, Charles McCuIloch, John W. BnJl, H. H. 
Putnam, T. Hogan, Henry Stoll, Louis Dessaner, A. H. Carier, 
James Lillic, 0. E. Bradway, C. Begker, Wm. Tegtmeyer, George 
Jacoby, H. Schnelker, G. H. Wilson, S. T. Hanna, C. Tremmel and 
J. Shoepf. 

The original City Charter was written by Hon. F. P. Randall, and 
passed by act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, incor- 
porating the city of Fort Wayne, approved February 22. 1840, and 
provided for the election, by the people, of a President (or Mayor,) 
and six members of the Board of Trustees, (or Common Council,) 
and the election of Genei-al Officers by said Board, or Council. 

The progress in mat-jrial wealth of Allen county and Fort Wayne 
may be approximately measured by the following statement, gathered 
from the books of Henry Rudisill, Esq., County Auditor: 



Progress in Population and Wealth. 



381 



1840 — Taxable valuation of real property in Allen county $ 821,662 

Taxable valuation of personal property in Allen county 234,933 

Taxable valuation of real property in Fort Wayne 367,336 

Taxable valuation of personal property in Fort Wayne 134,933 

1850— Taxable valuation of real property in Allen county 1,860,103 

Taxable valuation of personal property _. 595,336 

Triable valuation of real property in Fort Wayne 604,439 

Taxable valuation of personal property in Fort Wayne 381,476 

I860— T:ixai)le valuation of real property in Allen county 4,953,385 

Taxable valuation of personal property 1,950,695 

Taxable valuation of real property in Fort Wayne 1,449,300 

Taxable valuation of personal property 814,870 

1873 — Taxable valuation of real property in Allen county 10,210,824 

Taxable valuation of personal property 3,657,352 

Taxable valuation of real property in Fort Wayne 4,191,715 

Taxable valuation of personal property., 2,;!58,845 

The growth of Allen county during a period of forty yeai's is 
exhibited in the followino; census returns : 



i8;;o. 

1840. 
1850. 



. 996 
. 5,943 
.16,719 



1860 29,328 

1870 43,494 

And of the city and several townships in the county, during three 
decennial periods, in the following table : 



TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES. 


1870 


I860 


1850 


Aboite 


906 
2388 

912 

1713 

1217 

19460 

202 
1445 
1471 
1309 
1278 
1319 

391 
1183 
1479 

6;J0 
1280 
1280 

430 
1749 
1373 
1628 


876 
1778 


539 


Adams 


1012 


New Haven 

Cedar Creek 




1328 

1003 

10319 

93 

1061 

1320 

951 

919 

1358 

164 

786 

610 


814 


Eel River 


655 


Fort Wayne 


4282 


Jfjffevson 


563 




524 




578 


Madison 


561 


Marion . 


1095 


Mauuiee 


93 


Milan 


861 


Monroe 


414 






Perrv 


1180 

1207 

346 

1505 

1065 

1487 


842 


Pleasant 


658 


Scipio 


173 


Springfield 


702 


St. Joseph 


748 


Washington 


1805 



382 Fort Wayne — Churches, Schools, c&c. 

Churches. — There are twenty-two, namely : Three Presbyterian ; 
three Catholic; four Lutheran; four Methodist; two Protestant 
Episcopal; one Baptist; one Congregational; one Bethel (Evan- 
gelical Association;) one Jewish Synagogue, and two German 
Reformed. 

Newspapers. — Four, namely : The Fort Wajne Senfivcl (daily 
and weekly,) Dumm & Fleming, editors and proprietors ; the Fort 
Wayne Gdzette, (daily and weekly,) McNiece & Alexander, editors 
and proprietors ; Indiana Slaais .^(3i7?f;^//, (tri-weekly and weekly,) 
John D. Sarninghausen, editor and proprietor ; Fort Wayne 
RepvMica)i, (weekly,) W. R. Steel, editor and proprietor; Fort 
Wayne Journal, (weekly,) Thomas S. Taylor, editor and proprietor; 
and the Voll'sfrennd, (weekly,) the Volksfreuud Publishing Com- 
pany, proprietors. 

Public School Department. — Board of Education : Oliver P. 
Morgan, President; John S. Irwin, Treasurer; Pliny Hoagland, 
Secretary; James H. Smart, Superintendent. In addition to the 
High and Training Schools, which occupy one building, there are 
nine others, namely : The Jefferson, Clay, Washington, Hoagland, 
Ilanna, Harmer, Bloomingdale and East and West German Schools. 
These schools are all under very efficient management, and are con- 
ducted satisfactorily to the public. About 2,500 pupils were 
enrolled the cui*rent year. 

There is also the Fort Wayne College, and three private schools, 
the latter in a flourishing condition, and under the auspcies of the 
Catholic Church. 

Benevolent Institutions. — There are eight Masonic organi- 
zations: Fort Wayne Conimandery No. 4; Fort Wayne Council, 
No. 4 ; Fort Wayne Chapter, R. A. M. ; Wayne Lodge No. 25, F. 
& A. M., Summit City Lodge, No. 170; Home Lodge, No. 342; 
Sol. D. Bayless Lodge, No. 859, and Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
Rite. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows are represented in four 
Lodges: Fort Wayne Lodge No. 14; Harmony, No. 19; Con- 
cordia, No. 228, and Summit City Encampment, No. 16. 

The Israelites have four societies which are well sustained, 
nemely : The Independent Order Benai Berith ; Jewish Poor Fund 
Society ; Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society, and Hebrew Literary 
Association. 



Fm-t Wayne hi 1834. 383 

The Independent Order of Red Men sastain two Lodges ; the 
(Tood Templers one, and the Typographical Union one. 

The French citizens have a flourishing organization knowji a.s tlie 
Latayette Benevolent Society. 

The CatholicH have several charilal»le and literary institutions, 
among the most licneliciciit of which is a Charitable Hospital 
established in the large building formerly used as a hotel, and known 
as the Kockhill House. 

The young Men's Christian Association, and the Allen County 
lUble Society have each a large membership. 

The foregoing is all that could conveniently be obtained in regard 
to the religious, literary and benevolent establishments of Fort 
Wayne, without exhibiting a discrimination that would have 
subjected the writer to censure — some having furni.shed full data 
while others, engrossed in business, neglected to afford the infor- 
m.'ition requested. 

A copy of the Fort Wayne Soifi/irJ, by Tigar & Noel, fthe first 
paj)er established in the Maumee Valley,) dated August .'JO, ls;i4, is 
furnished by Mayor Randall. A glance at the advertisements, 
and other matter in this number, indicate some of the general 
features of the business as it then existed, and a digest is here 
furnished : 

S. & H. Ilaima & Co. advertise that they aii- engaged in the 
commission lousiness, and that they will receive in storage and sell 
all kin<ls of produce, '• and attend to the storage and forwarding 
business generally. " 

Then appears a prospectus for the 0/iio Ftirmer and Western 
[lorliniUurist, published twice a month, " on fine paper aii<i new 
type," by S. Medary, liatavia, Clermont County, Ohio — concluding 
with the admonition ''that all letters to the editor must be post 
paid.'' 

Samuel Kdsall *' respectfully informs tiic iidiabitants of Fort 
Wiiyiu' ami the |>ublic in gi'iieral,"' that he is engaged in the car- 
penter ami joiner business. 

.Foliii B. Richardville notifies all concerned that he is atlminis- 
trator of the estate of Joseph RichardviMe. late of Miami county, 
deceased. 

David Coles ofters for sale ''that valuable propi-ity on the 
Maum»'e Kiver, ihree-fourLhs of a mile from Fort Wayne, consisting 
of a mill establishment and mill site, a portion of which is bottom. 



384 Fort Wayne in 1834. 

and the balance first rate upland. There is an excellent and con- 
venient spring ot water on it.'" 

Thomas Johnson and Lucien B. Ferry insert their law cards. 

W. G. & G. W. Ewing '• having prepared a commodious ware- 
house, will receive and sell all kinds of produce, and attend to the 
storage and forwarding business generally." They furthermore 
promise the highest price in cash and merchandise for iurs and 
peltries. 

The St. Joseph Iron Works, which appear to have been under 
the management of A. M. Hurd, advertise business in their line. 

Comparet & Coquillard notify "all persons indebtcl to the firm 
by book account to call and make settlement ; and those who are 
indebted by note of hand, are requested to call and pay the same." 

Ebbert & Co. " inform their friends and the public in general 
that they have commenced the cabinet and chair making 
business " — their shop being " on Columbia street, one door east of 
Joseph Morgan's store, and nearly opposite the printing ofiSce." 

Ebbert & Rhinehart announce that "they continue to carry 
on the carpenter and joiner business in all their various branches," 
" and hope by a strict attention to business," &c., &c. 

John B. Dubois " returns his thanks to his numerous friends for 
the liberal encouragement bestowed,'' &c., and " informs them and 
the public in general that he will continue the tailoring business at 
his old stand adjoining the Exchange Coifee House.'" 

An apprentice, between Hand 16 years of age was wanted by Mr. 
Tigar in the Sentinel office. 

" Good strong beer, for sale at the Fort Wayne Brewery, by the 
barrel or gallon, cJieap.'''' Signed, Comparet & Coquillard. 

The co-partnership of Work & Cron, (Henry Work and Isaiah 
Cron,) was dissolved July 16, 1834. 

Comparet & Coquillard advertise for hops and deer skins. 

T. Pritchard oflers the highest price in cash for old brass and 
copper. 

" Many voters " request the announcement of the following 
names as suitable persons to fill the offices in the village : Corpor- 
ation Trustees, John B. Bourie, L. G. Thomson, James Baruett, John 
B. Dubois and L. B. Wilson; and for Library Trustees, J. A. 
Aughinbaugh, L. V. B. Noel, Thomas Johnson, Wm. H. Wallace, H. 
Rudisill, Milo Eumsey and Marshall L. Wines. 

The publishers state, editorially, that they " have been disappointed 



Fort Wayne in. 1834. 



385 



in receiving their supply of paper; therefore, no paper will be issued 
from their office next week." 

The following statement of the number of votes given at the 
Presidential election in 1834, and at the elections in 1831 and 1832, 
is oflered by the editor as gratifying proof of the rapid increase of 
population in this part of the State : 



COUNTIES. 


\mi 


1833 


1831 


Allen 


358 
151 
364 
446 

482 


224 

87 
189 
244 
165 


208 


Lncrange 


unorganized. 
182 


Klkhart 


St. Joseph 

Laporto 


123 
unorganized. 


Total 


1801 


909 


513 







Tell dollars reward is offered by Joseph Gronauer for the recovery 
of a horse that left his premises. 

Horatio N. Curtis, Thos. P. Quick, William Gordon, Robert W. 
Clemmer, George Platter, Samuel Hughes, Robert Murphey, Henry 
Hughe.=, Andrew Clemmer, R. V. Spurrier, "\Vm. Banks and James 
Phillips, date an advertisement from Crauesville, Williams county, 
Ohio, and appear to have a controversy with a firm at Fort "Wayne 
who had sold each of them Fanning Mills. 

Fresh groceries at the "William Tell Coffee House, No. 7 Commer- 
cial Row, are advertised. 

D. Burr, Commissioner of Contracts, cautions the public against 
the purchase of draft No. 78, drawn on the Commissioner of the 
"Wabash and Erie Canal, and directed to James B. Johnson, Fund 
Commissioner of Canal Board, and made payable to Daniel 
^IcGillycuddy. 

D. Burr, Samuel Lewis and James B. Johnson, Commissioners of 
the "Wabash and Erie Canal, serve a notice upon George Conner, to 
the effect that they have "requested S. Noel, Magistrate, to 
issue his warrant to the Sheriff to summon a jury to meet on the 
east part of the south-east quarter of section No. 3, Township 30 
north, of range 12 east, at 10 o'clock a. m., 30th September, to 
ascertain the damages, if any you may have sustained by the con- 
struction of the Wabash and Erie Canal." 

Anthony L. Davis has placed his notes in the hands of S. Noel^ 
Esq., for immediate collection. 



386 Fori Wayne in 1834. 

Thomas Johnson, Clerk pro tcin., notified the qualified voters of 
the town of Fort Wayne " that there will bean election at the house 
of Colonel Suttenfield on Monday, the 1st of September next for the 
purpose of electing five trustees of the corporation of said town.'' 
Dated August 11, 1834. 

D. Pickering announces that an election will be held for the 
purpose of electing *' five delegates for the Allen county library for 
the ensuing year." 

Matthew Griggs advertises reliable property for sale, consisting of 
"lots Nos. 117 and 118 on the original plat of the town of Fort 
Wayne. On lot No. 118 there are comfortable buildings which rent 
for one hundred and forty-four dollars per annum. Lot No. 118 is 
on the corner of Barr and Berry streets — 150 feet on Barr and 60 
feet on Berry. For terms enquire of the subscriber, three-fourths of 
a mile south of Fort Wayne, or of D. H. Colerick, in Fort Wayne." 

S. & H. Hanna & Co. advertise " new goods, flour, pork, butter, 
lard, brandy, rum, wine, molasses, tea, coffee, mackerel, shad, Ames' 
shovels, Collins & Co.'s axes, table knives and forks, log chains, cut 
spikes, tow, linen, counterpanes, needles, pins,'' &c. 

Samuel and James Hunter inform the public that the persons 
who vend wind mills made at John's Mills under the direction of Mr. 
Bowser, sometimes represent to the people that the mills are the 
work of our establishment at this place. This is not true," &c. 

One hundred laborers are wanted by Isaac Whicher to whom the 
highest wages in cash will be given for labor on sections 57 and 117 
of the Wabash and Erie Canal. 

Isaac Spencer announces that he has received a new stock of 
summer and fall goods. 

Kumsey & Stophlet advertise that they have removed their shop 
to the new building No. 14, Commercial Eow, Columbia street. 

Lucien P. Ferry gives notice that he has taken out letters of 
administration on the estate of Louis Godfrey, deceased, formerly of 
Huntington county, Indiana. 

V. Armitage offers ten dollars reward to the person who will 
return his stray horse to Col. Suttenfield's stable. 

F. D. Lasalle & Co., make a call upon those indebted to them for 
payment. 

Henry Work offers the highest price for hides and skins, and states 
that he manufactures boots and shoes at his tannery. 



Fort Wayne in 1872. 38*7 



T. rritcliard lulverlisos tlK; A\'illi;im Tell Coffee House and Kead- 
inj^ Room, No. 7, Comineroial Row, Columbia street. 

Rhoda and Wm. G. Cushman gives notice that the books, notes, 
bonds, and every other evidence of liability to the estate of Dr. 
Henjaniin Cushman have been placed in the hands of D. II. Colerick 
for immediate suit and collection. 

Jacob Cox announces to the public that he has opened a saddler's 
shop in Commercial Row, No. 3, and notifii's the citizens that they 
can be furnished with fire buckets, if immcduitc application be 
made; and adds the significant suggestion that " tlie ordinance is 
about to expire." 

One hundred dollars is offered in an advertisement signed " Wm. 
T. Barry, Postmaster General, by II. Rudisill, P. M., for tlie arrest 
and delivery to the United States Marshal at ludianapnlis, or secured 
in any jail within loOmilesof Fort Wayne, of Wm. McCoy, charged 
with robbing the United States mail, and who broke jail at Fort 
Wayne, on Friday, the 1-lth of May, 183-t. Said McCoy is 17 years 
of age," &c. 

Henderson & Kincaid suggest that they will have a small sum of 
money to lend, providing those indebted to them will call and settle 
their accounts soon ; if not, they will inevitably have to borrow. 

NOTES ON TUE BUSINE.'^S 01- KORT WAYNE IN 1872. 

It is a subject of regret tlua u more satisfactory view of the 
business of Fort Wayne, as it now exists, could not have been pre- 
sented in these pages. In December, 1871, a Board of Trade, one of 
the chief purposes of which was to make an annual exhibit and 
publication of the business of the city, was organized ; its oflicers 
and committees were judiciously selected, and its membership 
embraced, so far as enrolled, the best business men of the city ; but 
the first year not having terminated, it is too late to receive for use 
in this work the benefit of the valuable statistics which the forth- 
coming first annual rejiort will doubtless present. The writer 
devoted much time and effort to the work of gathering the necessary 
statistics; but fimilly, through the pressure of personal demands 
upon the time of railway managers, manufacturers, bankers, mer- 
chants, &c., to wliom application was made, many of them were 
unable to communicate the facts so desirable to present a view of 
their several industries. The best presentment, however, from the 



388 Fort Wayne in 1872. 

imperfect light attainable, is here given, prefaced by a list of the 
officers of the Fort Wayne Board of Trade : 

President, K, P. Edgerton; \st Vice President, J. H. Bass; 2d 
Vice President, R. G. McNiece ; Secretary, F. S. Shurick ; Treasurer, 
Ohas. McCulloch; Directors, S. Cary Evans, S. B. Bond, A. C. 
Trentman, A. P. Edgerton, J, II. Bass, A. Waring, S. Thanhonser 
R. G-. McNiece, John Orff, Ohas. McCulloch and F. S. Shurick. 

The following list of members of the Board will constitute some- 
thing of a business landmark for future times : 

Name of Members. Lvsincsn. 

Alexander D, S Gazette Co. 

Anderson T. P Piano dealers. 

Aveline House Hotel. 

Bash So! Bash & Co., dealers in furs, wool, hides, &c. 

Bass John H Fort Wayne Machine Woriis. 

Bayless Sol. D Attorney-at-law. 

Beaver A. C Beaver, Miller &Co., planing mill. 

Becker Jacob Oppenheimer & Becker, com. merchants. 

Bell R C ...Attorney-at-law. 

Bond C. D President Ft Wayne National Bank. 

Bond J. D Cashier Ft. Wayne National Bank. 

Boeger Rudolph Miller & Boeger, flour, feed, &c. 

Bond S. B President Allen Hamilton & Co.'s bank. 

Bowser J. C Bowser & Co., machinists. 

Beach Frederick Morgan & Beach, hardware. 

Biddle L. M Druggist. 

Becker Chris Shitermeister, Becker & Bond, steam lime 

marble works 
Bond Henry W Shetermeister, Becker & Bond, steam lime 

marble works. 

Bull John W Proprietor Mayer House. 

Boltz F. F Groceries. 

Braudrifl A. D Braudriff & Roberts, hardware. 

Brackenridge J Judge Criminal Court. 

Carter Wm Stove dealer. 

Clark Jos. M Merchant tailor. 

Clark Jno. H Clark &Rhinesmith, pine lumber dealers 

Cochrane .John Cochrane, Humphrey & Co., builders. 

Case W. H Humphrey & Case, linseed oil. 

Colerick David H Attorney-at-law. 

Coombs Jno. M Iron dealer. 

Carry E Root & Co., dry goods. 

Dumm R. D Dumm & Flemmiug, daily Sentinel. 

Dreir Bros Druggists. 

Davezac Peter Grain dealer. 

EckertFred Butcher. 

Edgerton A. P President Gas Co. 

Edgerton H. H Secretary Gas Co. 

Edsall W. S County Clerk. 

Evans S. Cary President Merchants' National Bank. 

Evans A. S Evans & Co., wholesale dry goods. 

Edgerton J. K Attorney-at-law. 

Ewing Geo. W Ewing, Smith & Co., tobacconists. 



Fort Wayne in 1872. 389 



Sames of Members. Butinett. 

First Xiilional Bank I. T). Niitlman, President. 

Flirt Wayne National Hank C. I). Bond. Prc-sidt-nt. 

Fleming Wni Diinun A: F., daily .'^ndtul. 

FoellinL'er J. M (Troceriis, »te. 

Ft. W. Macli. cV- Car Wheel W'ks...T. U. Bass, Proprietor. 

Ft. Wayne Savings Bank Ino. Hough, Treasurer. 

Foster Brothers Dry Goods. 

Frank M Frank iV: Thanlionser, dry goods. 

Gosliorn J. S Civil engineer, contractor, Ac. 

C.orhaur C. E Supt. P. Ft. W. <S:, C. By. 

Hamilton, Allen iV Co Bankers. 

IIamilt>.n Montgomery llueslis S: II., wholesale grocers. 

Hamilton A. H 

Ihimiihrey A; Case Linseed oil. 

Hanna S. T Bcal estate, itc. 

Hanna II. T Real estate, &c. 

Hoirman Bros Walnnt lumher dealers and manulacturers. 

Haskell Wash Produce & commission merchant. 

Haltersley Brass works, &,c. 

Harper Bros Hatters. 

Hill C. L Piano dealer. 

Hill Jno. E. Jr Flouring mill. 

Hoagland Pliuy Vice President Ft. Wayne National Bank. 

Hough John Heal estate, insurance, &c. 

Huestis A. C lluestis ct II., wholesale grocers. 

Humphrey Geo Cochrane II. & Co., builuers. 

Hurd O. D Sash, door and blind manufacturer. 

Irwin Jno. S Cashier Merchant's National Bank. . 

Iddings Hiram U. S. pension agent. 

Jones Wm. H Attorney. 

Kamm J. J Postmaster. 

Keil Bros Books, stationery, wall paper, &c. 

Lamley Moses Lanilcy & Roschthol, cigar manufacturers. 

Lingeufelscr Bros Trunk it valise manufacturers. 

Lowry Hobt Judge Circuit Court. 

McCulloch F. II McC. A: Hichey. hardware, «.tc. 

McCuUoch Charles Cashier Allen Hamilton «fc Co. 

McDougall Jno Carpet dealer. 

!McKay Neil McKay & Goshorn, contractors. 

McKinnie Henry Eating hotel. 

3IcNiece K. G..." Daily Gazette. 

Alarkley Aaron Markley, Scrader & Co., boots and shoes. 

Mayer Andrew Mayer ifc Grotfe, jewelers. 

Meyer Bros, it Co Druggists. 

Miller Jno. M Furniture manufacturer. 

Moon Geo. R I'. S. Collector's ofllcc. 

Morgan O. P Morgan it Beach, hardware. 

Murray K Murray it B., machinists. 

Myers W. H Physician and surgeon. 

Moderwcll H Shirt manufacturer. 

Ndseiter C. B Harness, saddles, «tc. 

Neiseiter Conrad Trunks, valises, itc. 

Nidlinger Jacob Clothmg. 

Oakley it Son ., Hardware. 

Olds it Sons Spokes, hubs. &c. 

OrIT John Flouring mills. 

Ortf C OrirC. it Co., dry goods. 



390 Fort Wayne in 1872. 



Nwmci of Members. Bminsss. 

Paul Wm. & Son Groceries and provisions. 

Pfeiffer J. C. & Co Flouring mill. 

Randall F. P Mayor. 

Read & San Livery and sale stable. 

Read Moses Flour, feed and produce. 

ReidlA.D Reid, Waring & Nelson, Ft. W. Plow Works. 

Root L. B. & Co Dry Goods. 

Rurode E. C , ...Root & Co., dry goods. 

Rudisill H. J County Auditor. 

Sarnighausen Jno Staats Zeitung. 

Shoaff Sam'l H Saddles, harness, &c. 

Shurick J. S Stave manufacturer. 

Sienion Bros Stationery, books, &c. 

Sinclair Samuel E Attorney. 

Slack Thos. A Agent Empire Line Co. 

Schurick F. S Agent Associated Press. 

Smart J. H Superintendent public schools. 

Smick S. S Agricultural implements, etc. 

Steel W. R ^*\\{ov Republican. 

Stockbridge N. P Stationery, books, &c. 

Sturgis House C. B. Cumpston, proprietor. 

Sutermeister A ....Sutermeister, B. & B., marble works. 

Schuckman Juo Wilson S. & M., hardware. 

Trentman B Trentman & Son, wholesale grocers. 

Trentman A. C Trentman & Son, wholesale grocers. 

Trentman H. J Crockery, china, &c. 

Tresselt Christian Tresselt, Hoagland & Co., Flouring mill. 

Thanhouser Samuel Frank & Thauhouser, dry goods. 

Vollmer Daniel Druggist. 

Vodermark & Sons Boots & shoes. 

Wagner H. G \ Druggist. 

Wallin C. E Photographer. 

Ward H. N Crockery, china, glassware, &c. 

Western Union Tel'gh Co C. H. Currier, Manager. 

White J. B Fruit house. 

Williams J. L , Civil engineer and contractor. 

Williams Henry M Hoagland, Tresselt& Co., flouring mill. 

Williams Edward P Meyer Bros. & Co., druggists. 

Wilson Geo. H Wilson Schuckman & M., hardware, tin, &c. 

Wolke Frauk H Wolke & Trentman, confectioners and cracker 

manufacturers. 
Worthington W. W Superintendent Ft. W., M. & C. Railway. 

AgrictiUural Machinery, £c. — Seven establishments are engaged in 
the handling of agricultural machinery, whose annual sales exceed 
$180,000. These goods, however, are chiefly manufactured al)road. 

Bakeries. — Ten are reported. The value of the raw material con- 
sumed and aggregate profits, would make a good exhibit, if they 
could be ascertained. 

Bank arid Bankers. — Statistics of this important element that 
exercises so great power on the business of a community, could not 
be ascertained. There are five institutions, however, and all sub- 
stantial. The Fort Wayne National Bank is one of the oldest and 



Fort Waijne in 1872. 391 



most solid institutions in Indiun:i — liaving existed prior to its or- 
ganization under the National Banking act during many years, un- 
der a State Charter, and organized and managed, chiefly, by Hon. 
Ilugli !McCulloch, late Secretary of the United States Treasury, and 
now principal of a leading banking house in London. Then there 
is the Merchant's National, the Bank of Hamilton, Allen & Co., 
the Fort Wayne Savings Bank and the First National Bank. 

Band Saw Mill. — [See "Black Walnut Lumber and Sawed Chair 
StufiT." Also, " Saw Mills."] 

Boarding Houses. — Thirty-six. 

Boiler Makerft. — Three, employing in the aggregate a capital and 
manual force that renders it one of the most important industries 
of Fort Wayne. Statistics of one of these appears under the head of 
"Stationary Steam Engines, Boilers,'' &c., the establishment of J. C. 
Bowser «S: Co. 

Book Binders. — Two, Dumm & Fleming and Davis &, Bro. 

Books and Stationery. — Four well-stocked establishments. 

Boots and Shoes. — Thirty-five ; the stocks being mostly imported. 

Black Walnut Lumber and Sawed Chair Stuff. — Hoffman Bros, 
employ in this industry sixty hands, and produce an annual value 
amounting to $125,000. 

Car Wheels. — The establishment of John H. Bass gives employ- 
ment to eight hundred hands in the manufacture of car wheels, 
boilers, &c. 

Carpels, Oil Cloths, die. — Two houses arc engaged exclusively in 
this trade. 

Carriages and Wagons. — Six establishments manufacturing exten- 
sively. 

Chair Stuff.— One by J. K. Hoffman & Bros. 

Children's Carriages. — Three firms engaged in this manufacture. 

Cigars and Tobacco. — Twelve establishments, the larger number 
of which manufacture cigars. 

Clothing. — It is estimated that twelve clothing establishments 
make annual sales amounting to $250,000, and that about twenty 
percent, of this amount is manufactured in Fort Wayne. 

Drugs, Medicines, d-c. — Fifteen stores, one of which, (Meyer, 
Bros. & Co.,) wholesale to a large amount, and the store of H. G. 
Wagner is one of the most attractive business houses in the city. 

Dry Ooods. — Nine establishments, one of wliich sells onlv at 
wholesale. 



392 Fort Wayne in 1872. 

Other Stores. — Six flour and feed, one variety, nine liquor and 
wines, twelve sewing machine agencies, two periodical depots, twelve 
millinery, twelve notions, four looking glasses, five harness, saddler}--, 
Ike, four hair work, jewelry, &c., six hats and ca})s, one hoop skirts 
and corsets, four fur dealers, ten furniture, fourteen gentlemen's fur- 
nishing goods, five fruit dealers, five fancy goods, eight stove and 
hardware, four cliina, glass and queensware, one dental goods, and 
one tin and glassware. 

Groceries. — Three wholesale and sixty-eight retail houses. The 
sales during the current year of one of these houses is estimated at 
$800,000. 

Two establishments trade in guns, pistols, &c., seven in hides, pelts 
and furs, four in horse collars, one in knitting machines, one in lap 
window shades, six in leather, findings, &c., five in lime, plaster and 
cement. 

Oas Works. — The Fort Wayne gas Avorks use tliirteen miles of 
street main, and supply six hundred and six customers. There is 
probably no establishment, either in Europe or America, whieli con- 
tains in its management so large a degree of science and intelligent 
business skill as that which, chiefiy under Mr. II. II. Edgerton, sec- 
retary of the company, controls the Fort AVayne gas works. 

Hotels. — There are twelve well-conducted hotels, namely: The 
Mayer, Aveline, American, Harmon, European, Exchange, Fox, 
Hedekin, Old Fort, I'hillips, Ivobinson and Union. 

Jr07i, Steel and Heavy Hardware. — The estimated sales of these 
lines of goods, made by two firms, exceed annually $750,000, a con- 
siderable ])roportion of which is at wholesale. 

rhotograpliers. — The city contains five photograph galleries. One 
of these, under the management of J. A. Shoaft", produces works of 
art equal to those issued trom the best establishments in the United 
States. Tiie proprietor has devoted his lite to his profession, and is 
owner of Shoalf's Automatic Solar Camera, and other improvements 
which enable him to produce with marked accuracy miniature or 
life-size likenesses. The photographs from which were engraved the 
likenesses of Messrs. A. P. Eilgerton, Pliny lloagland, J.L. Williams 
and Wm. S. Edsall, were executed by Mr. Shoafl'. 

Flows. — The Fort Wayne Steel Plow Companj% have invested a 
capital of $65,000, and give employment to thirty-five hands. The 
company have the capacity of making 10,000 plows annually, equiva- 
lent to a gross product of $100,000 in value. 



Fori Wayne in 1S72. 393 



Saw Mills. — Four saw mills {irodiicc m/jirly six nullions fcrt of 
lumber nniuially. 

The owiKTS of two tliiiL nmmifuctiire tlic Itir^'er proportion of tliis 
iimount, lire lloH'mun Bros., wlioinivke use of an invention, u patent 
for which was secured by one of them, and the projirietorship of 
which exists in the firm, that is of sullicient public value to render a 
special mention justifiable. The invention is one of the most im- 
l)ortant that has been made, relating to the lumber ])roduct, <lnring 
the present century. It is known as Ilolfman's Patent Band Saw 
Mill, and the following are some of its features : It is a new appli- 
cation of the j)rinciple of the liand Saw, heretofore in use only for 
scroll sawing, to a purpose that makes it successful in converting 
into lumber the largest logs that are gathered from the forest. An 
elaborate description of it cannot here be given, but the following 
l)oints are justly claimed for it : 

1st. ^Saving of Lumber. Ordinary saws cut live-sixteenths of an 
inch saw-kerf, while many in actual i)ractice cut three-eights. This 
liand saw cuts oxe-twelktii. In sawing 1,000 feet of inch lioards, a 
saw cutting live-sixteenths of an inch will turn 312 feet of lumber, 
into sawdust. This saw, cutting one-twelfth of an inch kerf, makes 
fi'.i feut into sawdust. This shows a saving of '2:29 feet of lumber on 
eacli thousand feet of inch boards sawi-d. In sawing thinner luinbcr 
the saving is greater. In valuable timber the saving in sawdust 
alone pays the llrst cost of the mill in six months. 

2d. Saving of Power. Twelve-horse power is all that is required 
to cut 6,000 feet of hard wood lumber, or 8,000 feet of soft, per day. 

.*Jd. Making Better Lumber. With this saw can be made boards 
of any reiiuired width, limiteil only by the si^.o of the log. They leave 
no offset. 

4th. Frcrdom from hanger. — Kvery year scores, if not hundreds, 
of men are killed or maimed by circular saw.s. These saws arc per- 
fectly safe. 

Stationary Steam Engines, Tubular and Fluid Boilcnt, Tanks and 
Saiu Mills. — The house of J. C. Bowser & Co., use raw material to 
the amount of ^75,000, manufacture annually a value of $'^'00,000, 
and employ an average force of seventy-live hands. 

This firm, the members of which consist of Messrs. Jacob C'. Bow- 
ser, Joseph Iv. I'renti.ss and Daniel M. Fall.M, are each, in his spliere, 
tnoroughly practical and energetic business men ; and as evidences of 
the remarkable success of their enterprise, it may be stated that their 
work is shipped chiefly to New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, 
and other States east; thus, by reason of the character of their goods, 



39 Fort Way7ie m 18*72. 

coming into successful competition with establishments founded 
when the Maumee Valley was comparatively a wilderness. The per- 
son who, even twenty years ago, would have suggested that an estab- 
lishment for the manufacture of the heaviest iron machinery would 
one day spring up at what was^then the small town of Fort Wayne, 
and ship their work to the Atlantic States, would have been consid- 
ered but a small remove from insanity. Yet the fact exists, and to 
business men of their stamp is the city of Fort Wayne largely in- 
debted for its unexampled prosperity. 

Watches, Clochs, Jewelry^ Solid and Plated Silver Ware, &c. — Five 
jewelry establishments make sales amounting annually to $200,000. 
The house of Messrs. Geo. J. E. Mayer and F. Voirol, opposite the 
Fort Wayne and First National Banks, Main street, is among the 
most reliable and extensive in Indiana, and justly noted for the pure 
quality of their goods. 

The city also contains eight lumber yards, five livery stables, four- 
teen meat markets, five saddlery and harness stores and shops, eleven 
barber shops, and ten confectionery establishments. 

Among the manufacturing establishments not heretofore enumer- 
ated, are the following: One flax mill; one linseed oil mill; four marble 
manufactories; three mattress manufactories; one mustard manufac- 
tory; one paper mill; one paper box factory; one organ factory; one 
pottery; the Fort Wayne agricultural works, manufacturing reapers 
and mowers; six breweries; two brass foundries; four broom factories; 
four candy factories; ten bakeries; four cooper shops; one basket 
maker; thirteen blacksmith shops; tAVO establishments manufactur- 
ing trunks, valises, etc., and giving employment to thirty-six hands; 
two chair factories; fourteen dressmakers, one hat and cap establish- 
ment, employing eleven hands; four planing and flooring mills, one 
of which employs eighty-five men, and turns out an annual product, 
including building material, amounting to $80,000; one spice mill; 
one woolen mill; one spoke and hub factory; two manufactories of 
staves and heading; three tanneries; one umbrella maker; five up- 
holsterers; three vinegar factories; and two establishments that man- 
ufacture window blinds and shades. 

Standing upon the cupola of the Court House, and looking over 
the city, and counting the chimney or " smoke stacks," one discov- 
ers that there are twenty-nine manufacturing establishments in Fort 
Wayne operated by steam. 




tXM 







cc.'Cj^ 



Pioneer Notes — William S. EdsalL 395 

Transportationr-Railroads. — Primarily, and when the North 
West was only inhabited by Indian tribes and scattered settlements 
of French and English traders, clustered around military posts, the 
town was the entrepot for a trade of considerable magnitude be- 
tween Lake Erie and the country west and south, and also was the 
gate-way of the early commerce that floated down to it on the St. 
Mary's, in tlat-boats and pirogues. These primitive and expensive 
means of transport were succeeded by the canal, opened in 1843, 
and this by the railroad system. It would be a matter of public in- 
terest to trace the origin and progress of the several railroad lines, 
which have exercised an influence so powerful in securing the rapid 
concentration of population and wealth at Fort Wayne. A dilligent 
and patient effort to obtain the necessary statistics was made, but 
failed chiefly by reason ot the refusal of the local manager of the 
lirst established and most important road (the Pittsburg, Fort 
Wayne & Chicago,) to furnish the necessary statistics, although a 
clerical force was tendered free of charge to the company. The ap- 
plication made to W. F. Kay, Master Mechanic of the Toledo, 
Wabash & Western Railway Company, was more successful, and 
the substance of his communication is appended : 

The value of the shops at Fort Wayne, at present, is about 8275,- 
OOO, but these will be increased in extent and value soon. 

The number of men employed is about 300; what proportion of 
them have families residing in Fort Wayne, I cannot say, but should 
judge as many as two -thirds, and half that number, or as many as 
one hundred, own their houses where they live, and many own lots, 
intending to build on them. 

In addition to the two great lines mentioned, the following 
named roads liave Fort Wayne as one of their terminating points : 
Grand liapids & Indiana; Michigan Lake Shore; Fort Wayne, Jack- 
son «& Saginaw; Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati; Cincinnati, 
Richmond & Fort Wayne. The seven lines now in operation, ami 
others projects 1. are prol^ably destined to \>\ace Fort Wayne the 
first in the list of Indiana's cities. 

Recurring to the era of the flrst settlement of the Maumee Val- 
ley by the Anglo Saxon race, there will be found much of value and 
interest in the reminiscences which follow : 

NOTES REGARDING THE EDSALL FAMILY. 

An early pioneer of Fort Wayne, and identified with measure.? 
that secured its flrst public improvements, including canal, mud 
turnpike and plank ro.ad enterprises, as well as those involving im- 



396 Pioneer Notes — Willia7n S. JEdsall. 



portant commercial schemes, and who is yet living, is William S. 
Edsall, the present county clerk ot Allen county, and the fourth 
son of Peter and Catharine Edsall, who emigrated from Orange 
county, New York, in the Year 1812. The family then consisted 
of the parents and four children. They reached Pittsburg by wag- 
ons, at which point they embarked aboard a flat boat, to which the 
family and goods were transferred, and descended the Ohio river to 
Cincinnati. Here they landed, and the crew, securing the craft to 
a large tree on the bank of the river, encamped near the shore. 
During the night, and in a heavy wind and rain storm, the tree was 
uprooted, and, falling upon the boat, forced it to the river bottom, 
carrying with it nearly every vestige of their outfit, including even 
the bible, containing the family record. From thence they proceed- 
ed up to where Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, now stands, 
and rented a small piece of ground, and with the limited means lett, 
bought the necessary farming utensils and seeds for putting in a 
crop. They remained upon this rented land two years, and then 
removed to Darke county, near Greenville, where they resided 
pending the negotiations of the treaty, concluded at Greenville, July 
22, 1814; at which place, by keeping a shanty boarding house, they 
recuperated sufficiently to get up respectable trains, and removed 
to St. Mary's, Ohio, (now Auglaize county,) and during the treaty- 
making, resulting in several treaties, [hitherto cited in this volume] 
made at that town with sundry tribes of Indians in the months of 
September and October, 1818, the family a second time resorted 
to the boarding house business, and were sufficiently rewarded to 
enable them, in 1819, to purchase an eighty acre tract of land on 
the south side of Shane's prairie, three miles south of Shane's Cross- 
ing; and here the husband and father died, in 1822. When the Ed- 
salls located on the prairie, the families they found there were the 
Dennisons, Chivingtons, Roebucks, William B. Hedges and An- 
thony Shane. In the meantime, since leaving New York, five chil- 
dren had been added to the household. The widowed mother, de- 
siring to execute the oft-expressed wish of her husband to secure 
an education for her children — that being the sole aim of the life of 
herself and husband, of whom she was now bereft — removed, in 
1824, to Fort Wayne. 

Reaching this place at the date mentioned, with a family of children 
now increased to nine — six sons and three daughters — she proposed 
to her three eldest sons, namely : Samuel, John and Simon, that 
they go out from her, and make free choice of their several trades, 
and stipulate for education as part consideration for their service — 
this form of apprenticeship then being in conformity with the law 
and custom of the coimtry. The youngest of the three named. 
Simon, devotedly attached to his mother, declined to leave her, on 
the ground that his choice was that of farming, and furthermore 
that his energies would be required at home to aid in sustaining his 
mother and the younger members of the family in their rugged ways 



Pioneei' Notes — William S, JBklsall. 397 



of life — his junior brother, William S., Ijeiug then only thirteen years 
of age, aiul ^suJ)^)osecl to be too young to contribute anything beyoufl 
the amount necessary to support himself. 

In accordance with this arrangement, mutually agreed upon by 
the mother and children, Samuel, the eldest, made choice of the car- 
penter and joiner trade, and was apprenticeil to Colonel Hugh Ilan- 
na ; and John, the second, was apprenticed to John ^IcAUister, 
tailor. 

The business life of William S. commenced under the circum- 
stances hereinafter mentioned : 

In IS'JG, a corps of LTnited States Topographical Engineers, under 
command of Col. James Shriver, was detailed to survey a route for 
the Wabash and Erie Canal. In May or June of that year the sur- 
vey was commenced at Fort Wayne, and but little progress had 
been made, when the whole party was prostrated by sickness, and 
Colonel Shriver soon afterwards died in the old Fort. He was suc- 
ceeded by his assistant, Colonel Asa Moore, under whose direction 
the survey was prosecuted during the years 18:^30 and 1827, down 
the Wabash to the mouth of Tippecanoe, and continued along the 
Maumee in 1827-::i8, until Col. Moore also fell a victim to disease, 
dying in his tent at the head of the Maumee rapids, on the 4th of 
October, 1828. Mr. Edsall was an attache of this engineer corps, 
and suftered from the prevalent diseases of the country. 

FORT WAYNE IN 1822. 

During the residence of the Edsall family on Shane's prairie, the 
senior and his three eldest sons, viz : Samuel, John and Simon, in 
1819 and in-jo, made trips to Fort Wayne in the summers of those 
years, an'i cut and cureil hay for the subsistence of the stock of the 
traders at that point. The hay was obtained from the extensive 
prairie west of the Fort. The wants of the traders required large 
(|uantities of hay to subsist the stock of their Indian customers, who 
would congregate at the place during the winter months for pur- 
poses of trade. As exhibiting the general teatures of the prairie at that 
period, it is stated that the principal portion of the grass was cut in 
places where the water covered the surface from six to fifteen 
inches, and the saturated herb was then placed on litters, and trans- 
ferre«l to the higher ground tor the purpose of curing. A portion 
of that same ground is now, though wet, tolerably adapte<I to pur- 
poses of tillage, an<l is susceptible of reclamation by drainage into 
the sources of the Wabash, and will ultimately become the most fer- 
tile portion of Allen county. 

These summer trips of Mr. Edsall and his sons to Fort Wayne 
were satisfactorily remunerative, furnishing a market for.tho surplus 
larm products, which they would carry to the Fort Wayne market 
on the outward tri])S, ami the hay enter])rise, realizing suflicient to 
alTord considerable recompense. These visits impressed Mr. and 



398 Pioneer Notes — William S. Edsall. 



Mrs. Edsall so favorably regarding Fort "Wayne tliat they concluded 
it was destined to become an important point, favorable to the great 
purpose they had in view of educating their children; and a removal 
had been contemplated before the death of Mr, Peter Edsall, which 
occurred, as before stated, in 1822. After his death the three sons 
pursued the custom of their father, in spending the hay-making sea- 
son at Fort Wayne. 

In the summer of 1823, the elder brother being at Fort Wayne, 
Jacob Gundy, a neighbor,was passing their house, on Shane's prairie, 
with a load of bacon for the Fort AVayne market, and it was agreed 
that Wm. S. should accompany him and ascertain the condition of 
his brothers. The distance was forty miles, and the trip to the Fort 
occupied ten days — there being no regular roal, except the old trail 
of Gen. Wayne, and fallen timber frequently interposing obstacles 
in following it, and rendering it necessary to cut new passages. 
Between Shane's prairie and the Fort, there was only one house, and 
that on the Twenty-Four Mile Creek, occupied by George Ayres, 
a British deserter. Capt. Riley, however, was residing at Willshire, 
on the oppo-ite bank of the river. 

Reaching Fort Wayne, the junior Edsall found occupying the 
block houses within the tort, Gen. John Tipton, Indian Agent Jos. 
Holman, Receiver, and Samuel C. Vance, Register of the United 
States Land Office; two taverns, kept respectively by Colonel Alex- 
ander Evving and Colonel William Suttenfield — the former situated 
on the south side of Columbia street, corner of Barr, and the latter 
on the opposite, or diagonal, corner of the same streets; and to the 
proprietors of these two taverns Mr. Gundy sold his freight of ba- 
con. The merchandise business was principally in the hands of the 
licensed Indian traders, namely : Comparet & Coquillard, agents of 
the American Fur Company ; Colonel Alexander Ewing, and his 
sons, Wm. G. and George W. ; George Hunt, Chief Richardville, 
James Barnett, Samuel Hanna and Thomas Forsyth; a retail ginger- 
bread, candy and beer establishment, kept by the father of the late 
Xenas Henderson, (the latter being a lad at the time.) The latter 
establishment occupied the site on Columbia street, where now 
stands the hardware store of B. W. Oakley & Son. Among those, 
then residents of the place, and connected with the Indian trade, 
were Francis Aveline, alias St. Jule, father of the late Francis S. 
Aveline, who built the Hotel in the city now known by the family 
name ; James Peltier,father of Louis Peltier, now a resident of Fort 
Wayne; John Baptiste Bruno, Richard Chobert, Francis and Charles 
Minnie, John Baptiste Bourie, father of the late John B. Bourie, 
Joseph Barron, John P. Hedges, John B. Bequett, (an Indian trink- 
et manufacturer,) John Baptiste Durett and Antoine Gamblin. 

Among the farmers of the neighborhood were Captain Hackley, 
(son-in-law of the distinguished Captain Wells,) who cultivated 
very imperfectly a few acres, which now constitute the northern 
margin of the city, and whose house stood upon the ground near 



Pioneer Notes — Williiun S. Kd^aU. ;:599 



the foot of Calhouu street, on the north bank of the St. Mary's. 

Amon^ the names above nientiontd. one* of the most far-sighted 
and phiUinthrnpic, was that of James Burnett. Discovering, clearly, 
t'ven in the rude condition of the country in which he lived, that 
Fort Wayne was destined to become a city of importance, he gave 
freely of Iuh time and energies to every scheme that was devised to 
give the place a start in the race of business life ; and no iij>peal for 
the exercise of Christian cinirity was ever made to him without meet- 
ing with a generous response. 

He passed through Fort Wayne a few years after the close of the 
last war with Great Britain, driving a lot ot" hogs for the use of the 
garrison at Fort Dearborn, lie subsctiuently, as before mentioned, 
established.himself in^business at Fort Wayne, and actively engaged 
in evcrv well-devised enterprise designed to promote the public 
prosperity. 

The writer is informed by the subject of this sketch, that at the 
time this survey was made, there were only six white families resi- 
dent of the whole district between Fort Wayne and the mouth of 
tlie Ti))pecanoe river — a distance of 134 miles. These were Chamj)- 
ion Helvey, at the continence of the Salamonie with the Wabash ; 
Major Harsh, (brother-in law of Col. McCorkle, one of the original 
proprietors of Fort Wavne.) who occupied a tenement on the old 
treaty ground where Wabasli now stands; Benjamin Chamberlain, 
residing at the mouth of Eel river, o])posite Logansport ; Major 
Daniel Bell, then on the ground upon which is now Logansport; 
Mrs. Hicks, at the mouth of Eock creek, twelve miles below Logans- 
port, and an old Mr. Baum, at the mouth of Deer creek, now the 
town of Delphi. 

The widow Edsall occupied a cabin on the banks of the St. Mary's, 
near where the county jail is now located, and which was near the 
usually traveled route of the Indians trading at the rival establish- 
ments of Wm. G. & George W. Ewing, Barnett & Ilanna, Francis 
Comj)aret and Alexis Coquillard. In the seasons when the Indians 
came to trade, they would generally encamp on the opposite, or north 
side of the St. Mary's, and cross over and spend a portion or the 
whole of the day on the Fort Wayne side. Canoes were in demand 
to ferry the Indians, and also frecpiently the traders, and young Ed- 
sall discovered an ojiportunity of making some money for the use of 
the household by the establisJiment of a ferry. Among others, the 
Ewinge, on their visits to the Indian camps, were frequently his cus- 
tomers; and Wm. G. Ewing, after some acquaintance, thus formed, 
proposed to the boy that he engage with himself and brother, and 
become instructed in the mysteries of trade and commerce. The 
])ropoeition was highly acceptable to the lad, but he referred it to his 
mother, and an arrangement was concluded, and in October, LS27, at 
theage of sixteen years, a contract was made,by which he entered their 
service, and continued until 1832, spending the last two years with 
George W. Ewing, at Logansport. In the spring of the last named 



400 Pioneer Notes — William S. UdsalL 



year, having attained his majority, the Ewings, desirous of continu- 
ing business relations with Mr. Edsall, proposed to him either a 
partnership or an outfit of a stock of goods, they to share the profits 
of the business, in case he chose the hitter. Accordingly he elected 
to have charge of a stock of goods, and selected Huntington as the 
location. His customers were principally Indians and canal con- 
tractors. Near the close of the year 1832, he received the appoint- 
ment of postmaster at Huntington, and in the spring of 183i^, was 
elected clerk and recorder of the county, to which was then attached 
for judicial purposes, the counties of Wabash and Whitley, and in 
183G resigned all these offices, closed his business, and returned to 
Fort Wayne, and entered into co-partnership in the mercantile busi- 
ness with his brother, the late Major Samuel Edsall. This firm con- 
tinued until 1839, when the Ewings ofi'ered Wm. S. Edsall a third 
interest in their widely extended business, which ofi'er he accepted. 
The newly-formed partnership of Ewing, Edsall & Co., and its con- 
nections, extended over a large area of country — the policy being to 
not only hold the fur trade with their old Indian customers, who 
had removed west of the Mississippi, but to establish relations with 
other fur dealers, throughout the country. This, and other firms, 
with which they were in close alliance, were in competition with the 
American Far Company, and the strife between them for the trade 
became so great that furs advanced to a price that inflicted consider- 
able losses upon the rival companies. During this co-partnership, 
in the spring of 1839, Mr. Edsall made a horseback visit connected 
with the business of the firm from Fort Wayne to Chicago, Joliet, 
Ottawa, Rock Island and Dubuque, thence to Galena and Madison, 
the present capital of Wisconsin. At this period, after leaving Otta- 
wa, he would frequently ride thirty miles without finding a human 
habitation ; waste places then, that are now covered with populous 
towns and cultivated fields. 

The firm of Ewing, Edsall & Co. dissolved its business in 1841. 
The partnership, by reason of the competition already referred to, 
had been unsuccessful. After the dissolution of the firm, and Mr. 
Edsall having retired with blighted i)rospects and exhausted re- 
sources, applied for and received tlie appointment, in 1843, of Regis- 
ter of the United States Land Office in Fort Wayne, and held this 
place until 1848. In 1846, however, he had again formed a partner- 
ship with his brother, Major Edsall, in the mercantile and milling 
business, which they conducted until 1849. 

At this period the Edsalls, realizing the necessity and great ad- 
vantages to the trade of Fort Wayne of a road which would open 
communication with the settlements north and south, originated a 
project for the construction of a plank road from Fort Wayne to 
Blufi'ton. In this work they had the hearty co-operation of all the 
business men of the city, who were generous in their aid by 
stock subscriptions. Although the road, from its inception to its 
completion, occupied about two years, it proved an enterprise of 



Pimieer Notes — William S. Edsall. 401 



greater value to the business interests of Fort Wayne than any pub- 
lic improvement, except the Waliash and Erie canal, that had hither- 
to been nndt-rtaken. 

On the 3d of July, 185o, the brothers Edsall entered into aeon- 
tract with the Lake Erie. Wabash & St. Louis R. R. Company, for 
the trading, masonry and Inrriisiiing the ties for forty seven miles 
of the road, from tlie Ohio State line to the Wabash river, two miles 
west ol' lluntingron ; and immediately cornmenC'd the erection of 
shanties, the collection of a laboring force, and other preparations 
for the exeeution of their contract. Having completed their pre- 
liminary arrangements^ they were informed by the Company that, 
owing to the monetary crisis then existing, they would not be en- 
abled to make payments before the following spring. Undismayed 
by this intelligence, which resulted in tlie suspension of the work 
by some of tlie other contractors, tlie Edsalls availed themselves of 
their credit, and made successful appeals to the pul)lic spirit of the 
merchants of Fort Wayne to atford supplies to sustain the laborers 
upon the work, and they proceeded with undiminished vigor and 
regularly met the claims of their creditors. But iti tlie following sea- 
son the cholera scourge appeared in I'eai'ful form, extending along the 
whole line, and sweeping off in multitudes overseers and workmen. 
Added to this, labor and })rovisions suddenly ;ippreciated ; and Hour, 
which the Edsalls the previous year had shipped to Atlantic markets, 
realizing, when stdd, from 84.75 to So.OOper barrel, was now worth, 
delivered along tiie line, §9.00 per barrel, and labor, which, when 
they commenced their work, could be readily had at 75 cents per 
day, now commanded S1.25. Notwithstanding all these discourage- 
ments, they s.ruggled on, and com[>lered their contract in the spring 
of 1856, having a large unliquidated claim against the company, but 
owing no laborer a dollar. 

Stating here what might have been previously mentioned, that 
Wm. 8. Edsall was a contractor on the Wabash and Erie canal, and, 
also recapitulating what has been mentioned, that himself and brother 
originated the sclieme for bridging what was then an impassable 
swamp lietween Fort Wayne and Blutfton ; their joint efforts and 
sacritices to secure a second railroad to Fort Wayne; it will be dis- 
covered that the city and county are considerably indebted to the en- 
terprise and pulilic spirit of these gentlemen for the commercial im- 
portance the city has now attained. 

Concluding this sketch, it may here be stated that Major Edsall 
closed his useful life in February, 18G5, and that the subject of this 
sketch, although never having enjoyed but a single day of school 
privileges, has been enabled, in the uattle of life, to successfully com- 
pete with the merchant princes of tiie land, and yet is a citizen of 
Fort Wayne. In 18H8, returning to his old home from Chicago, 
where he had passed the preceding three years inactive business life, 
the Democratic Convention of Allen county, in June, IS Tu, con- 
ferred upon him the nomination for county Clerk. The only oppo- 

2d 



402 Pioneer Notes — Dr. John Evans. 



sition ticket, organized by a " Eeforni Party," also placed him in 
nomination ; and thus, without any compromise of manhood or 
principle, he received the unanimous vote of the people of Allen 
county for the oflQcehen^w fills to the satisfaction of the people and 
advantage to the public interests. 

DK. JOHN" EVANS. 

The family of this gentleman was widely known to the old citi- 
zens of the upper Maumee Valley. He had studied his profession 
under the instruction of the doctors Spencer, of Kentucky, and 
Rush, of Philadelphia ; and commenced practice at Washington, 
Fayette County, Ohio, about the year 1814 ; and also conducted, in 
separate rooms of the same building, the mercantile business and 
an apothecary store. On the 27th of May, 1818, he married Miss 
Elizabeth Taylor, of Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio. 

The Evans family were among the early settlers of Kentucky. 
Samuel Evans (father of Dr. John,) removed to Ohio from Bourbon 
County, Kentucky, when the latter was about 17 years old. Will- 
iam Taylor (father of Elizabeth, who married Dr. Evans,) was the 
first settler between the Oiiio river and Chillicothe. He moved from 
Pennsylvania to Kentucky when his daughter Elizabeth was about 
three months old, and from Kentucky to near Bainbridge, Ross Co,, 
Ohio, when she was six or seven years of age. 

Dr. Evans and family (now consisting of his wife and two daugh- 
ters,) removed from Washington, Fayette County, to Defiance, in 
February, 1823. They started in a large double sleigh, but the 
snow failing, they were compelled, on the second day, to abandon 
their sleigh, and resort to wagons. The family reached Judge Na- 
than Shirley's, on the Auglaize river, one mile above Defiance, on 
the last day of February. Their first location was at Camp No. 3, 
five miles below Defiance, on the north side of the Maumee, 
in a double log cabin ; and here, Samuel Carey Evans, their 
first son, was born, April 10th, 1828. During the summer, 
the doctor built a frame house at Defiance, into which he re- 
moved his family in the month of November of that year. He made 
the first brick and the first lime that was manufactured in Defiance, 
a part of which was used in the construction of his own house ; and 
the proceeds of the sale of the surplus lime and brick netted an 
amount that paid the entire cost of his house. 

In this same year, Foreman Evans, his brother, also removed to 
Defiance. 

The late Judge Pierce Evans (cousin of Dr. John,) removed to 
the head of the rapids of the Maumee, and resided there during the 
year 1822 and in 1823, and then removed to the farm below Defiance, 
now occupied by his son, Einaldo Evans. 

When Dr. Evans reached Defiance, there were no physicians on 
the river nearer than Fort Wayne above, and Maumee City below, 
and his professional visits often extended to the first named place, 



Pioneer NoUs — Dr. John Evans. 403 



to St, Mary's, on the St. Mary's, and to the head of the Maumee 
rapids. There being no well-made roads, no bridges over the 
streams, and lucilities for ferriage at points remote from each other, 
it is ditUcult to convey to the mind of the medical practitioner of 
this day an adequate view of the formidable, and often dangerous, 
obstacles that Dr. Evans was com])elled to encounter in the dis- 
charge of his ]irofessional duties. The tirst relief from this exhaust- 
ing toil was atlorded by the arrival, at Detiance, of Dr. Jonas Colby, 
in lb32. 

In 1824 he purchased a stock of goods of Hunt & Forsyth, of 
Maumee City, which were brought up on pirogues. This was the 
tirst store of considerable importance that contained goods ada])ted 
to the wants of the white settlers, although staple Indian goods 
(except whiskey) were included in his general stock. 

When the family removed to Deliance, there were no regular 
Church services; and, until the Court House was erected, no suita- 
ble house for worship. The Methodists, however, held services at 
short intervals, sometimes in private houses, and, when the weather 
was favorable, in the adjacent groves. The tirst Presbyterian cler- 
gyman was Kev. Mr. Stone, (father of Mrs. Wm. A. Brown, now 
living at Defiance), 

During his residence in Defiance, Dr. Evans possessed more fully 
the confidence of the Indians than the majority of those who hail 
had dealings with them. He acquired this confidence by profess- 
ional ministrations, by fairness in trade, and refusing their applica- 
tions for intoxicating drinks. When the Indian men and women 
would visit town, and the former obtain liquor of mercenary tra- 
ders, and become drunken and crazed, and their brutal nature 
aroused, the latter A^ould gather up the tomahawks and knives of 
their lords, and deposit them about the premises of their friend, Dr. 
Evans. On one occasion, the chief, Oquanoxa, of Oquanoxa's town, 
on the Auglaize (now Charloe, Paulding County), brought one of 
his daughters to the doctor to be treated for some malady which 
had bathed the skill of the Indian " medicine man." She was re- 
ceived into the doctor's household, and in due time restored to 
health. As an equivalent for this service, the chief made the doc- 
tor a present of an Indian pony. 

In 1838, with a view of atfurding his children opportunities for 
obtaining better educational facilities, he temporarily removed to 
Troy, Ohio, and continued there until the fall of 18-iU, when he re- 
moved to Fort Wayne, and engaged actively in commercial pursuits, 
in partnership with his son-in-law, John E. Hill. During iiis resi- 
dence in Troy, he had continued business at Detiance — and now, 
from the two stores, they supplied the contractors who were con- 
structing the Paulding County Reservoir with goods to prosecute 
their work. In 1840 he removed the Defiance stock to Fort Wayne, 
and concentrated his business at that point. 

In the summer of 1842, business called Dr. Evans to Deliance, and 
while there he was seized with an illness that would have induced 



404 Pioneer' Notes — Dr, John Mvatis. 



an ordinary person to remain and receive medical treatment ; but his 
indomitable will had determined him to make an effort to reach his 
family, at Fort Wayne. Leaving Defiance on horseback, he had 
traveled only about a mile, and reached the house of Thomas War- 
ren, when die intensity of his suiferings arrested his progress, and 
he remained at the house of Warren two or three days. Meantime, 
believing himself, doubtless, that his case was critical, he despatched 
a messenger to Fort Wayne, to notify his family of his condition. 
On the message being communicated to the family, his son, Samuel 
Carey Evans, immediately started to meet his father ; and, reaching 
his bedside, discovered the alarming symptoms of the case, and at 
once dispatched a second messenger to Fort Wayne to summon Dr. 
S. G. Thompson, and also to notify his mother and other members 
of the family, of his father's condition. The intelligence being 
communicated, Dr. Thompson and Misrf Merica Evans, second 
daughter of the doctor, at once sat out on horseback, and, notwith- 
standing the bad condition of the roads, reached Mrs. Hilton's (to 
whose house, in order to secure more comfortable quarters, Dr. Ev- 
ans had been removed,) within eight hours after leavmg Fort Wayne. 
Dr. Evans, by this time becoming fully conscious that he could only 
survive a few hours, dictated the following as his last will and testa- 
ment (Dr. Thompson acting as amanuensis), and which embodied a 
distribution of his estate, adjusted upon such nice principles of jus- 
tice and affection, that no word of complaint, or of discord, was ever 
uttered by the parties affected by it : 

'•'I, John Evans, being weak in body, but sound in mind and 
memory, knowing the uncertainty of life, and the certainty of 
death, do make and publish this, my last will and testament, hereby 
revoking all former wills. First — I commit my soul to God, who 
gave it, and my body to the earth, to be buried at Fort Wayne, in 
such manner as my family may direct. And I hereby appoint my 
daughter, Merica, and my sons, Carey and Rush, together with Al- 
len Hamilton, Hugh McCulloch and Fierce Evans, as my Executors ; 
and it is my desire that the three last named Executors shall per- 
mit my sons, Carey and Eush, to continue the mercantile business 
until all my just debts are paid; after which, it is my desire that 
my beloved wife shall have one-third of all my personal and real 
estate daring her life ; and desire that my daughter, Eliza Hill, shall 
receive nothing more until my other children have received one 
thousand dollars each. After which, I wish the balance of my prop- 
erty equally distributed among my children. And I further desire 
that my children shall provide for Alcy Cumberland [a faithful col- 
ored servant of the family,] so long as she may live; and it is my 
special request that my friends, the three last named Executors, will 
not make any public sale of property, but permit my sons to sell at 
private sale to the best advantage. Signed, sealed and delivered, 
this 10th day of August, A. D., 1842. " JOHN EVANS. 

"S. G. Thompson, ) TTr,v„.„,„„„ 

" A. G. Evans, ^ ^vitnesses. 



Pioneer Notes — Dr. John Evans. 405 



Having performed this last earthly duty, his remaining moments 
were consecnitcd to the service of his Maker, and in endearing ex- 
pressions of affection for the two members of liis family who were 
present, and in messages to those who were unavoida'oly absent. On 
the following day (lltli of August,) his death occurred. 

And thus, at the age of forty-eight years, the honorable career 
of Dr. John Evans was brought to a close in the very prime of 
his manhood. No death that occurred in the valley during that 
year, produced a more general or profound regret. The pliysician 
whose skill had prolonged the lives of multitudes, was unable to 
heal himself 

An obituary of the Fort Wayne Times^ dated September 17, 1842, 
appears below : 

" On the evening of the 11th ult., near Defiance, Ohio, Dr. John 
Evans, of this city, breathed his last, in the 40th year of his age. 
The removal of this highly respectable and enterprising citizen from 
the sphere of his earthly labors has excited the deepest sympathy, 
and the sincerest regrets among a numerous circle of friends and 
acquaintances; and has cast a deep shade over the hopes and happi- 
ness of a disconsolate wife and bereaved family. lie is now no 
more — all that was mortal rests within the portals of the tomb; but 
his memory will ever live in the hearts of all who knew him. His 
weight of character, his great moral worth, and exemplary deport- 
ment in each and every relation of life, will be remembered, his vir- 
tues admired, and his memory cherished, as long as the qualities 
that adorn human nature shall be held in proper estimation. 

" At a very early period in the settlement of north-western Ohio, 
Dr. Evans located at Defiance. The extended practice and the ex- 
traordinary degree of favor which he there obtaine<l, are sufticient 
evidence of his eminent merit. It may be said with truth, in the 
beautiful language of the poet: 

•' ' None knew liim hut to love liiin, 
" ' None named bim Init to praise.' 

"After having passed the meridian of life in the practice of a la- 
borious i^rofession, he removed his family for a short period to Troy, 
Ohio, and thence to this city, with a view of establishing his sons 
in the mercantile business, and reposing, during the remainder of 
his days, in the midst of his beloved family, and in the enjoyment 
of an honorably-acquired competence. He went to Defiance abo\it 
the commencement of the month (August) for the purpose of trans- 
acting some business. While there he felt unwell, and fearing an 
attack of disease, he started for home ; but before proceeding far 
his progress was arrested by a most severe attack of bilious pneu- 
monia, which terminated his earthly existence on the seventh day 
following. During his short but i)ainful illness he was compot^ea 
and resigned — he expressed a desire to live only on account of his 
family. He aroused from tlie stupor of approacbiiig dis.^olution to 
assure them of his entire willinsness to meet his Maker. As his life 



406 Pioneer Notes — S. Carey Evans. 



had been honorable and useful, his death was peaceful and happy." 
Mrs. Evans, widow of Dr. John Evans, is yet living, in a remar- 
kably sound condition of health and mind, alternately making her 
home with her surviving son and daughters (Samuel Carey Evans, 
and Mrs. John A. Hill, and Mrs. Henry J. Rudisill). She has sur- 
vived her affectionate husband, and one-half her children. 



Samuel Carey, son of Dr. John Evans, may be justly classed 
among the pioneers of the Maumee Valley. His father left him 
stocks of goods at Fort Wayne — one owned by John Evans & Co., 
(Edraond Lindenberger being the junior partner,) located on the 
corner of Calhoun and Columbia streets ; and the other store in the 
n ame of Evans & Hill, Culumbia street, ou the premises now occu- 
pied by Morgan & Beach, hardware dealers. 

Samuel C. and William Rush Evans settled the estate of their 
father, commencing their work at the date of his death, in August, 
1842, and making a final settlement in the summer of 1845. In the 
fall of the last-named year, the two brothers, with Pliny Hoagland, 
engaged in business at Fort Wayne, on the corner of Calhoun and 
Main streets, under the firm name of S. C. Evans & Co., and con- 
tinued one year, when Mr. Hoagland retired from the partnership ; 
but the firm name remained until the fall of 1847, when a sale was 
made to T. K. Brackenridge & Co., the partners closing with about 
sufficient assets to meet liabilities ; and S. Carey Evans going to 
New York to engage in trade, and the two brothers, at about the 
same date, organized a firm at Defiance, under the name of W. R. 
Evans & Co., which prosecuted business about two years without 
realizing any profit. In April, 1853, the firm of R. Evans & Co. 
was instituted — consisting of Rinaldo Evans, and S. Carey Evans — 
and engaged in mercantile business on the corner above mentioned, 
and continued until the first of August, 1855. This firm was suc- 
cessful — transacting a cash business, and promptly meeting every 
engagement; and at the settlement of the partners, $4,159, in goods 
and other assets, were divided between them. 

The firm of S, C. Evans & Co. (the junior partner being John M. 
Foellinger,) commenced business in August, 1855, at the stand 
named above, and continued until September 1,1860; when the 
firm of S. Carey Evans & Co. wa,s re-organized and removed to Ken- 
dalville (the firm now being S. Carey Evans and W. Rush Evans). 
The junior member died here in April, 1862, and the business there- 
after was conducted by S. Carey Evans until September 1, 1865, 
when he closed his mercantile business at Kendalville, and, in Jan- 
uary, 1866, returned to Fort Wayne, and, on that date, assumed the 
Presidency of the Merchants' National Bank, to which position he 
had been elected, and which place he yet holds. Few important 
enterprises, of value to Fort Wayne, during his residence in the 
city, are 'not connected with his name, by the material aid and other 
encouragement he has afforded. This is particularly true of the 



Pioneer Notes — Henry Rudisill. 407 



Fort "Wayne, Jackson & Sapfinaw Railroad ; which important enter- 
prise, it is generally conceded, was secured to the city through his ener- 
gy and judicious management as a contractor for the whole portion 
of the work within the State of Indiana. Mr. Evans is a good type 
of the business men of Fort "Wayne, and inherits the business saga- 
city of his father. 



HENRY KUDISILL. 

Early identified with the business interests of North-Eastern In- 
diana, and of Fort "Wayne, was the subject of this sketch, who was 
born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the year 1801. His father (says 
Mr. Brice, in his history of Fort "Wayne,) subsequently removed to 
Franklin County, Pennsylvania ; and, at the age of 14, Henry was 
placed in a mercantile establishment in Shippinsburg, in that State, 
to be thoroughly educated in all the different branches of that busi- 
ness. Three years afterwards he removed to ChiUicothe, Ohio (then 
on the borders of western civilization), as an employee of Messrs. 
Barr & Campbell, who were then largely engaged in the mercantile 
business, at that and other points, east and west. 

He remained with this firm until 1824, when he removed to Lan- 
caster, Ohio, where he engaged in business on his own account, and 
was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Johns, who still sur- 
vives him. In 1829 he moved to Fort "Wayne, and, as the agent of 
Messrs. Barr & McCorkle, the original proprietors of the town, had 
charge of their real estate interests until 1837 ; and while acting in 
that capacity, cleared and cultivated a large portion of what is now 
known as the " old flat," and " Hanna's Addition*' to Fort "Wayne. 

Mr. Rudisill was of an active and energetic temperament, and a 
true representative of the men who, under Providence, have made 
the western country what it now is, and, with unselfish aim, always 
took an active and imjiortant part in every movement that tended 
to advance the interests of the county and city in which he lived. 
As early as 18.36, he, in connection with his father-in-law, Mr. 
Johns, commenced the improvement of the water power of the St. 
Joseph river, at the point where the St. Joseph's mills are now lo- 
cated, one mile north of Fort "Wayne, and built there a saw-mill, 
and the first flouring mill capable of manufacturing merchantable 
flour in Northern Indiana. A few years later he put in operation 
the first machine for carding wool that was ever used in Allen coun- 
ty ; and, some years subsequent, in company with Mr. L. Wolke, he 
started the first mill for making oil from flax-seed; and also estab- 
lished the first woolen factory in north-eastern Indiana. So, too, in 
church and educational matters, and in such public improvements 
as tended to develop the resources of the county, he was always 
ready and willing to aid, and contributed freely to their support, 
according to his ability. 



408 Pioneer Notes — Mrs. Laura Suttenfield. 



Beings of German descent, and for a number of years the only one 
in the city who could speak hoth laDguages, he soon became the 
counsellor, friend and helper of many who came from the old world 
to make this portion of the new their home ; and there are many in 
the county to-day who can date their first steps in their course of 
prosperity to his assistance and advice. 

Mr. Eudisill served as postmaster during the two terms of the ad- 
ministration of President Jackson ; and a term of three years as 
Commissioner of Allen County. 

Injured by a fall while superintending some work at one of his 
mills", his spine became afi'ected, causing partial paralysis, and subse- 
quent death, in February, 1858, leaving a widow, who now occupies 
the homestead embracing the margin of the acres which were cleared 
for military purposes by General Wayne, in 1794, and afterwards 
by General Harrison, in the war of 1812. His uprightness, kind- 
ness, and affability in his intercourse with his fellow citizens, early 
won for him a host of friends, who will ever cherish for him a kind- 
ly memory and regard. In his private social intercourse, he was no 
less happy in winning the affection and esteem of every one with 
whom he came in contact ; and it is a consolation to his family and 
friends to know that his true piety and earnest Christian faith have 
prepared for him a rich reward in that better world to which he has 
gone. 



MKS. LAUKA SUTTENFIELD. 

" But few of the pioneer mothei-s of Fort Wayne," says Brice, 
" survive among us to tell the adventures of the past ; one of whom 
is Mrs. Laura Suttenfield, now [in 1872] in her 78th year. Mrs. L. 
was born in Boston, Mass., in 1795, and came to Fort Wayne in 
1814, by way of the St. Mary's river, then much navigated by flat 
boats. It was soon after the arrival of herself and husband, that 
the old fort was removed, and a new one erected on its site, in the 
building of which her husband, Colonel William Suttenfield, took 
an active part. From the time of her first ai rival, her family made 
the fort their home, and resided in it for several years. Ever atten- 
tive and amiable in her disposition, she early won the esteem, not 
only of those within the garrison, but of strangers visiting the post, 
then so famous in the northwest. Her inemory ol eirly events, even 
at her advanced age, is remarkably clear. Her husband. Colonel 
Suttenfield, now dead many years, was a patriotic, kind-hearted 
man. For some time after his removal to this point, he was a non- 
commissioned ofiicer of the fort. At an early period of the strug- 
gles in the west, he was engaged in the recruiting sirvice, and for 
many months after his arrival here, was mainly employed in bring- 
ing provisions from Piqua, and orher points, on pack-horses, and 
usually had three or four men to accompany and aid him in his per- 



Pioneer Notes — Colonel George W. Mjoing. 400 



ilous and burdensome duties back and forth to the settlements. The 
first house (a substantial log edifice,) that was built in what is now 
the ' i>ld flat,' was er.cted \>y him at the northwest corner of Barr 
and Columbia streets, just opposite of T. B. Tlidekin, in which his 
family resided ior many years. Uer recollections of General John 
K. Hunt, Colonel John Tipton, Major B. F. b^tickmy, and Colonel 
John Johnson, are very clear. 



COLONEL GEORGE W. EWISTG. 

Ko family connected with the early business of the new States 
and Territories, and tiie prominent cities, west of the Alleghenies, 
was more conspicuous than that of the E wings, or occupied a lar- 
ger space in the public mind. In th'ir day aud generation, they 
achieved distinction in the halls of legislation, in courts of justice, 
and in leading marts of trade in America and Europe. 

In the l"'ort Wayne Gazette, of June (5, 1860, appears an obituary 
notice i<i the survivor of these eminent brothers, George W. Ewing ; 
which was prepared by I'yrum D. Miner, Esq., wlio was then prin- 
cipal and managing executor of the estate, and which is re-publish- 
ed below : 

'• We are again called upon to record the demise of an old and 
valued citizen, one of the most enterprising and energetic pioneers 
of the northwest. Colonel George W. lowing, the subject of this 
obituary, departed this life at the residence of Dr. Charles E. Stur- 
gis, in Fort Wayne, on the 29th of May, 1866, in the 63d year of 
his age. 

" As the Ewinijf family, of whom he was tht* surviving male mem- 
ber, have been identified with the early settlement of this country, 
it is proper at this time that a historical record should be perpetu- 
ated of them; and a few extracts from a history of the family, writ- 
ten by the deceased, will not be out of place. 

'• His father. Colonel Alexander Ewing, was of Irish i)arentage. 
and born in l*enn»ylvania in 170.'}. At the age of 16 years, actuated 
by the spirit of jiatriotism which filled the heart < f every true 
American, he repaired to Philadelphia, where he enlisted in the 
Continental amiy, and served duiing the Revolutionary sn-uggle. 

"In 1 /s7, he was engaged in a trading exi>edition in what was 
then called the far Northuest, and erected a trading po.>t on Buftal" 
creek, where now stands tlie city of Buflalo. A lew yi ars later, 
having been very j)rosperoiis in that busine.'^s, he purchase»i lands on 
the Genesee flats, ne.nr a small village called Big Tree, and in the 
neighbo hood of Geneseo, Livingston county. In 18('2, he removed 
to the Kiver Raisin, in the State of Michigan, and settled where now 
stands the City of Monroe. 

'' In ls07. he moved to the State of Ohio, and settled in the town 
of Washington, now called Piqua, remaining there and at Troy un- 



410 Pioneer Notes — Colonel George W. Ewing. 



til 1822, when he made his final removal to this vicinity, where, on 
the 27th day of January, 1827, he departed this life, and was buried 
at a spot selected by himself, near the northwest corner of Pearl 
and Cass streets, in this city. 

" The mother, Charlotte GriflBth, was of Welch parentage, a lady 
of great excellence and moral worth. She survived her husband 
until the 13th day of March, 1843, when she departed this life at 
Peru, Indiana. It has been written of her that she had died as she 
had lived, in peace and with good will to all, and a firm believer in 
the Christian religion. Her life had been a virtuous and well-spent 
one, and she died without reproach, respected and esteemed by all 
who knew her. The issue of this marriage was : Sophie C, relict 
of Smallwood Noel, Esq. ; Charles W., formerly President Judge of 
the 8th Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana, born at the village 
of Big Tree, above referred to ; William G., formerly Judge of the 
Probate Court of Allen County, Indiana ; Alexander H., a success- 
ful merchant of Cincinnati, Ohio, and George W., the subject of this 
memoir, who was boni at Monroe, Michigan. Lavinia, deceased, 
married to the Hon. George B. Walker, of Logansport, was born 
at Piqua. Ohio. Louisa, widow of the late Dr. Charles E. Sturgis, 
of this city, was born at Troy, Ohio. 

" In the year 1827, the two brothers formed the well and widely- 
known firm of W. G. & G. W. Ewing. By their articles of co-part- 
nership, all their estate, of every name and nature, became and con- 
tinued to be the common property of the firm, until the 11th day of 
July, 1854, when the co-partnership ceased by the death of William. 
During all that time the brothers reposed in each other the utmost 
confidence, and no settlement of account ever took place between 
them. They had many side partnerships and branches — Fort Wayne 
being the headquarters of all. William S. Edsall was a member of 
the firm of Ewing, Edsall & Co., and he was succeeded by Richard 
Chute, and the firm name was then changed to Ewing, Chute & Co. 

" At Logansport, Hon. George B. Walker was a partner. There, 
the celebrated firms ot Ewing, Walker & Co., and Ewings & 
Walker, had their business house, and at LaGro, Indiana, the firm 
was Ewings & Barlow. At Westport, Missouri, a very extensive 
business was transacted under the firm name of W. G, & G. W. Ew- 
ing ; and many branches were located in Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, 
Minnesota and Wisconsin. In fact, their business extended over a 
considerable portion of both Continents— their names being, in this 
country, familiar in every considerable town and hamlet between 
the Alleghenies and the Rocky Mountains. Their employees were 
numerous, and, with few exceptions, proved faithful and trust 
worthy. 

" At the death of William G. Ewing, George W. Ewing devoted 
his whole energies in the work of winding up the immense business 
of the old partnerships ; and, with the assistance of his former con- 
fidential agents, Messrs. Miner & Lytle, succeeded, on the 10th of 



Pioneer Notes— Colonel George W. Ewing. 41 1 



October. 1865, in making a full, final, and complete settlement to 
the satinfaction of the administrators (lion. Hugh McCulloch and 
Dr. Charles E. Sturgis), and the legatees of hin brother's estate; 
which settlement was confirmed at the March term, 1866, of the 
Common Picas Court of Allen County. Indiana, and the business 
relating to the estate of William G. Kwing closed finally. 

'' Colonel Ticorge W. Ewing, the subject of this obituary, com- 
menced his business career by establishing a trading post among 
the Shawanee Indians, at the place where now stands the village of 
Wapaukonnetta. in Auglaize county. Ohio. Wo next find him at 
th<' Miami treaty of iH^.'fi. where he laid the foundation of his future 
prosperity, and at nearly all the subsequent treaties with the Indi- 
ans in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, he attended and took a 
prominent position. In 18^h, he married Miss Harriett Bouric. and 
in IH.'iO. with other citizens of Fort Wayne, removed to the junc- 
tion of the Wabash and Eel rivers, and there founded the prosper- 
ous and growing city of Logansport. 

" In the year l^rU). he removed with his family to Peru, Indiana, 
where he continued to reside until October, 1846, when he moved 
to St Louis, where, on January '^4. 1^47, his wile departed this life. 
lie continued to reside at St. Louis until the death of his brother 
an<l business partner, William G., when it became necessary that he 
retuin to Fort Wayne, and take charge of the headquarters of the 
late firm. 

" On the '27th of December, 1S65. he was stricken down by an 
attack ot bilious pneumonia, from which he partially recovered, 
wl en heart disease intervened, and he lingered along until the date 
Itefore mentioned, having suffered intense agony of body and mind 
for five months, when death put an end to his e-vistence. 

■' So far as he could do so. he arranged his worldly affairs to his 
satisfaction, and after many long and earnest consultations with the 
Rt. Kev. Bishop Luers. he was baptised, and partook of the Holy 
Sacrament, an<i put his trust in the Dispenser of all good. From 
that time he appeared to lose his usual sternness of manner, to be- 
come entirely resigned and composed, and finally seemed to fall 
asleep, and <juietly |)assed away. 

*' At his particular request, made on his death-bed, he was buried 
in conformity with the rite.s of the Catholic Church — his body being 
deposited in his own lot at the Lindenwood Cemetery, near Fort 
Wayne. 

'"Thus has passed away another of the early settlers of this coun- 
ty. There are but few remaining, and it is saddening to contem- 
plate that^ in a few years more, those noble men and women will all 
have gone to their final resting place." 

B. D. Miner. Esq . who furnishe<l the foregoing sketch, commenc- 
ed his residence at Fort Wayne in \K\h. and his business relations 
with the Messrs. Ewing began in I^.'Jh. and terminated with the 
death of Colonel George W. Ewing, in 1866. The intimate busi- 



412 Other Pioneers, 



ness and social relations that had existed between the two, may be 
inferred from the subjoined provision contained in the will of Mr. 
Ewiug : 

'' In view of the long and intimate relations existing between my- 
self and my worthy friend, Byrmn D. Miner, I will and bequeath 
to him the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500,) in unim- 
proved real estate in Allen County, Indiana, to be selected by him- 
self and his co-executor hereinafter named, or such other persons as 
may execute this my last will and testament. And in view of his 
long and intimate connection with my general business, it is my 
will and desire that he shall be my active executor, and give his 
personal attention to settling up and protecting my estate, and car- 
rying out the provisions, meaning, and intention ol' this my my last 
will and testament ; and in consideration thereof I will and direct 
that he shall receive from my estate, in addition to what the Court 
shall allow him for his services as my executor, the sum of five hun- 
dred dollars ($500) per annum for the term of ten years, should he 
continue so long my active executor." 

Another provision appointed Mr. Miner and William A. Ewing, 
Esq., executors of the will. The first named having resigned in 
1860, his co-executor has now sole charge of the trust and execution 
of the Avill of Col. Ewing. 

The monument in Lindenwood Cemetery, although the finest that 
adorns that beautitul city of the dead, was scarcely necessary to 
perpetuate Colonel E^ving's memory with the present generation of 
Fort Wayne, who will never lorget one whose genius, enterprise 
and liberality contributed so much to place the business of the city 
upon the solid foundations it now occupies. 

It may be proper here to add that Mr. Miner, above referred to, 
has, during many years, been a public-spiritrd citizen of Fort Wayne, 
representing the County of Allen, in 18()8 and 186'.), in the Indiana 
House of llepresentatives, and also holding other responsible official 
and judiciary positions. 



John P. Hedges is now one of three of the oldest inhabitants re- 
siding in the vicinity of Fort Wayne. In 1812 he was a clerk of 
John H. Piatt, Commissary General ibr furnishing supplies for the 
Northwestern Army, and in that capacity visited the place in pur- 
suance of an order of Greneral Hill, to examine and report the ra- 
tions in the Fort. His residence, however, in Fort Wayne, com- 
menced directly after the conclusion of the treaty of Greenville, in 
1814. At this treaty his father. Samuel P. Hedges, and himself, is- 
sued rations to the Indians, under the orders of the Commissioners 
and Indian Agents. At this date there were no white families re- 
siding near the Fort. Several single persons, however, namely : 
George and John E. Hunt, Peter Oliver, and Perry B. Kircheval, 
were at the place — the two first named with a store of goods, and 



Pioneer Notea — Pliny Moayland. 413 



the last namerl a clerk in the employ of Major Stickney, Iii<lian 
Agent. The old Frencli traders had removed during the early part 
of the war ti> Detroit. In IHIT), Louis Bourio and family, Charles 
and James Peiti t and their families, returned to the fort. Colonel 
William Sutteufield beUinged to the first llegiment United States 
Infantry, under Colonel Hunt, and was a cor]»oral in the company 
yA .Major Whistler, commandant of the fort. The only survivors 
among tho-e who were residents here in ]Hl.'i, are Mrs. Suttentield, 
Mis. (rriswold (formerly Mrs. Peltier), and Mr. Hedges. 



Among the pioneers not hitherto mentioned, are the following : 
John (4. Mayer, born in Betzenstein. Bavaria, April 5, ISK) — ar- 
rived in New York in iM.'iy. and in Fort Wayni; in" istfj, and who 
will he remembered as the popular postmaster during the administra- 
tions ot' Pit rce and liuchanan ; iNIadison Sweetser, who removed to 
Fort Wavne in \f<'.YZ, and has been among the most prominent of 
its business men ; General llyacinlli Lasselle, who. it is claimed, 
was the Hrst white person born at the place in 177H; Allen Ilamil 
ton, who established himself in business in Fort Wayne in Ih-j;}, and 
whose name and successlul business career are yet clear in the rec- 
ollections of all the old citizens; Henry Tilbury, who settled three 
miles east of Fort Wayne, on the Kidge road, in Adams township, 
in I'^'iS; Mrs. Emeline Griswold, who was born at Detroit in 17'.t2, 
and removed to Fort Wayne in 1^S()7. with her grand-parents, Baptiste 
Maloch and wife; J. and B. Trentman, Jacob and J. M. Foelinger, 
A. Meyer, George Meyer, H. Nierman. John (Jrf H. Schwegman, 
Dr. C. Sehmitz. Henry Baker, Jacob Fry, B. I^hilli])8, C. iSIorrell, 
C. Mil, Louis Wolkie, 8. Lau. A. I'intz, Kev. Dr. Sihier, Gef»rge 
Miller, E. Vod<'niark, C I'iepenbrink, D. Wehmer, ('harles and L. 
Baker, Charles Mulder, I'eter Keiser and many others. 



FLIXY HOAOLAN'I>. 

There are few now in active life who have been more prominent- 
ly associated with canal, railroad, city improv- nient, and the school 
an'l otlicr im]»ortant interests of North- Western Ohio, and North 
Eastern Indiana, than Mr. Iloaudand. 

Commencing professional liie as an engineer on the Sandy and 
Beaver canal, in the spring ot IHlj.'), he engaged, three years later, 
(li^.S^), in the same employment on the Ohio portion ol the Wabash 
and Erie ("anal. 

He continued in this service imtil the completion of the work in 
\H\'.\, when he was placed in charge not only of the canal, but of 
the Western Reserve and Maumee road, which position he retained 
until he removed to Fort Wayne. During this servico of seven 



414 Pioneer Notes — Pliny Moagland. 



years, and embracing a period when the malarious diseases of the 
country were often very malignant, he was unremitting in the dis- 
charge of his ofl&cial trust, regularly visiting and inspecting every 
portion of the works confided to his charge. 

In the fall of 1845, he removed to Fort Wayne, where he yet re- 
sides, and where, as before stated, he has taken a leading, though 
undemonstrative and unostentatious part, in all the schemes that 
have proved beneficial to the interests of the city and country. — 
When the Ohio and I'ennsylvania road had been partly constructed 
between Pittsburg and Mansfield, that company were hesitating re- 
garding the route they would adopt when they formed their con- 
nection with the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati road at Crest- 
line : — whether they would form a Chicago or Cincinnati alliance ; 
and during the time they were thus deliberating, Mr. Hoaj^fland hap- 
pened to be at Wooster, where he met J. R. Strahan. William Ja- 
cobs, and others interested, to whom he urged the Chicago route as 
the one that would ref=ult most beneficially to the interests of the 
corporation. He immediately wrote to Judge McCulloch, stating 
the condition of matters, and suggesting the adoption of prompt 
measures by the citizens interested in the prosperity of Fort Wayne 
to rally in behalf of the Chicago route. His foresight and efforts 
were finally appreciated, and the road moved westward from Crest- 
line, until it finally, after hard struggles and sacrifices, reached 
Chicago. 

The concurrent legislation of Indiana, in 1851, rendered necessa- 
ry to perfect the arrangements authorized by the Ohio enactments 
of the previous year, was obtained chiefly through the efforts of Mr. 
Hoagland ; and the corporation, then known as the Ohio and Indi- 
ana Railroad, connecting Crestline and Fort Wayne, was organized ; 
Mr. Hoagland, Judge Hanna and William Mitchell becoming con- 
tractors for constructing the whole road from Crestline to Fort 
Wayne, a distance of 131 miles, except furnishing the iron. The 
letting occurred on the 28th of January, 1852, and the contract was 
completed on the 1st of November, 1854. In a history of the en- 
terprise and its early trials, published under authority of the Com- 
pany, it is stated that " these contractors commenced and prosecut- 
ed their work with such commendable energy as to have it ready 
for passing trains over the whole road on the first of November, 
1854." From the inception of the Ohio and Indiana, now a part of 
the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, until the present 
time, Mr. Hoagland has been, with the exception of a single year, 
a director; and also, since 1866, has held the position of director 
on the Board of the Grand Rapids Railroad Company. 

In 1856, Mr. Hoagland was elected a member of the House of 
Representatives of the Indiana Legislature, and, in 1862, a member 
of the State Senate. Judge McCulloch, after his appointment to 
the office of Comptroller of the Currency, resigned his position as 
President of the Fort Wayne branch of the Bank of the State of 
Indiana ; and Mr. Hoagland was elected his successor, and accepted 




lA^-j L4.^t^ 



J, ^.l/U-^^ 



lyU^L^t^^ 



Pione&r Notes — Jesse L. Williams. 415 



the appointment, resigned Iub seat in the State Senate, and held the 
position until the organization of the Fort Wayne National Bank, 
under the National Banking Law, when he declined the offer of the 
Presidency of the Institution, hut accepted the place of Vice-Presi- 
dent — an office which he continues to hold. 

During his service in the City Council, commencing in 1865, the 
system of sewerage, one of the best and most ample enjoyed by any 
city in the country, was commenced at his instance, and prosecuted 
to completion. Permanent street grades, and the Nicholson pave- 
ment, also, commenced during his term. These public improvements 
being secure, he declined a re-election. To his inffuence, as much 
as to that of any other person connected officially with the system, 
the public schools of Fort Wayne, including not only their manage- 
ment, but their buildings, everywhere regarded as models, have been 
placed in a condition by which they are recognized as holding a 
front rank among the educational establishments in the State. 

In the several official trusts cominitted to him — and they have 
been various, and began when he attained his majority, and continue 
until the present date — the official places he has held have, in 
every instance, sought him. He may have asked the vote of an 
elector for a friend, but never for himself He has much faith in 
old fashions, in the political and moral integrity of the olden time, 
and in old friends. Unfortunately for the country, the proportion 
of public men, now in service, of his stamp of character, is not as 
large as in other and better days. 



JESSE L. WILLIAMS. 

[The subjoined sketch of the public services of this gentleman, is 
gathered chiefly from the work of Charles B, Stuart, published in 
1871, and entitled "Lives and Works of Civil and Military Engi- 
neers of America.'" The scope of the operations of Mr. Williams 
passed the bounds of local limits, and became national. In other 
pages, the public are indebted to much that invest this work with 
historical value, to an unpretending pamphlet of Mr. Williams, en- 
titled, " A Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Fort Wayne,'' having originally been delivered before the congrega- 
tion of that church in the form of a lecture. In connection with 
his brother, the late Micajah T. Williams, of Cincinnati, and one of 
the original proprietors of Toledo, no two persons, as will be dis- 
covered elsewhere in this work, were more closely identified with 
the early public improvements undertaken by Ohio and Indiana.] 

Jesse L. Williams, who, tor a period ot over forty years, has been 
connected with the rise and progress of public works in the States 



416 Pioneer Notes— Jesse L. WiUiams. 



of Ohio aMd Indiana, was born in Stokes County, in the State of 
North Cai-olina. on the 6th of May, 1807. His parents, Jesse Wil- 
liams and Sarah T. Williams, of whom he is the youngest son, were 
members of the Society of Friends. 

About the year 1814, his parents removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. 
For some time after the close of the war of 1812, uncertainty at- 
tended every business enterprise. This involved the father in pecu- 
niary losses, which prevented him from securing for his young son 
the most favorable opportunities for securing a liberal education. 
In his early youth, the subject of this sketch was one of the pupils 
of the Lancasterian Seminary at Cincinnati, and afterwards at other 
places of residence in villages, or on the farm, he had only the small 
educational advantages offered in such locations, for the portions of 
time his other avocations would allow. 

After he had chosen a profession, at the age of eighteen years, 
his mind, one of the most marked traits of which appears in its 
power of concentration on a single object, was zealously devoted to 
an investigation of those branches of knowledge which seemed to 
have the most direct relation to the profession of his choice. In the 
course of his studies, his varied duties in engineering, location and 
construction, enabled him to combine practice with theory. It 
seems, indeed, that, ti'ained up amidst pioneer society, he is, in a 
great degree, like many others in the west, in evei-y profession, self- 
made and self-educated. The few years which, under more favora- 
ble circumstances, he might have passed in college, were employed 
necessarily in tilling the soil. A vigorous constitution thus acquir- 
ed, with habits of industry, temperance and untiring energy, were 
the compensatory advantages ; and with these sustaining and giv- 
ing ambition, he was doubtless encouraged in his early manhood to 
believe that success and honorable distinction in his profession, were 
not beyond his reach. 

Although he has often been heard to regret the want of oppor- 
tunities and leisure in early life for the acquisition of higher attain- 
ments in general learning, yet, as tested by the demands of a long, 
varied, and successful professional career, it would seem that the 
lack of early advantages has been mainly overcome. His acquire- 
ments, theoretical and jDractical, under the guidance of a sound and 
discriminating judgment, have been adequate to the faithful dis- 
charge of the difficult and complex duties of the various official 
stations in which he has been placed. 

The year 1825 was marked by an achievement in practical science 
and statesmanship which, for the times, was bold and far-reaching 
in results. The completion of water communication between Lake 
Erie and tide-water, placed the State of New York in a greatly ad- 
vanced position, attracting the attention of the Union. Other States 
caught the spirit of internal improvement. Ohio accepted it as her 
mission to extend the line of artificial water communication from 
the Lakes to the Ohio river. 



Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Williams. 417 



It was under Hio inspiration of these works of internal improve- 
ment, great for their clay, that the suhject of this memoir, then on 
the farm in Indiana, was permitted, at the age of seventeen, to take 
a subordinate ])laco among the corps of engineers wliieli, early in 
the year \'!^'2\, had been detailed in charge of Samuel Forrer, Civil 
Engineer, to make the tirst survey of the ^liami and Erie Canal from 
Cinciimati to the ^laumee l^ay. In this corps his ])osition was that 
of rodinan, and pay nine dollars per month. The line of the sur- 
vey, for the distance ot h;ilf its length, lay through an unbroken 
wilderness. On one continuous section of forty miles, no Avhile 
man was found. 

Mr. Williams continued to serve in the corps of engineers, under 
Mr. Forrer, in the final location and construction of the Miami and 
Erie Canal, and had charge, as assistant, of the heavy and ditVicult 
division next to Cincinnati. He was present at the formal breaking 
of ground in Ohio by DeWitt Clinton, and with otlier youthful en- 
gineers in the service of the State, it was his fortune to take the 
hand of that great man, and to receive from him kind and encour- 
aging counsel, jirompting to perseverance, and expressive of ardent 
hopes that the young engineers in his presence might attain honor- 
able distinction in their chosen profession, which was at that time 
so intimately related to the growing enterprise of the country. 

Owing to sickness of the ])rincipal engineer during the latter half 
of 1827, his active duties were temporarily extended over the whole 
work between Cincinnati and Dayton. 

In the spring of 18:28, the Chief Engineer of Ohio, David L. Bates, 
appointed ilr. Williams to take charge of the final location of tho 
Canal from Licking Summit, near Newark, to Chillicothe, including 
the Columbus side-cut, and after the line was located and ])lacetl 
under contract the construction between Circleville and a point 
south of Chillicothe, was committeil to his supervision. Among tho 
works on this division which required in their construction great 
care and skill, were the dam aiid a(iucduot across the river Scioto. 

In the Autumn of ISoO, the Canal Commissioners of Ohio ap- 
pointed a Boaril of Engineers to examine and decide the very 
responsible question of sui)plying with water the summit level of 
tho Miami and Erie Canal, whether by a system of artificial reser- 
voirs, or by long feeders from distant streams. Mr. Williams, then 
twenty-three years old, was appointed one of this Board. Reser- 
voirs were recommended for the main supply, one of which (the 
Mercer County Reservoir) is still in advantageous use, covering fif- 
teen thousand acres, and is probably the largest artificial lake any- 
where known. 

Early in 1832, Mr. Williams was invite<l by the Board of Com- 
missioners of the Wabash and Erie Canal, to take charge, as Chief 
Engineer, of the location and construction of that important work, 
then about to be commenced by the State of Indiana. The aj»point- 
ment was accepted. 

37 



41 S Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Williams. 

The following letter from Governor Duncan Mc Arthur, of Ohio, 
addressed to Governor "W. Noble, of Indiana, was probably one of tlie 
causes that led to the choice of Mr. Willliams : 

Chillicothe, February 25, 1832. 

Sir : Having been informed, through Mr. Eidgway, of Colum- 
bus, that the Board of Canal Commissioners of Indiana wish to em- 
ploy a skillful engineer to conduct the construction of your canal, 
I am induced to recommend to you Jesse L. Williams, Esq., who is 
now resident engineer on this part of our canal, as a gentleman well 
qualified for that important trust. He has had much experience in the 
business, having been constantly engaged in engineering since the 
commencement of the canals in Ohio. For integrity, judgment, 
and strict attention to business, he has not been surpassed by any 
engineer who has been employed on our canals. As his business is 
uow drawing to a close in this State, I am informed that your Canal 
Board may jorocure the services of Mr. Williams for a reasonable 
compensation. I have the honor to be, 

Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

DUNCAN McARTHUR. 
His Excellency. 

Governor W. Noble. 

In 1834, Mr. Williams was appointed, with William Gooding as 
associate engineer, to survey the White Water Valley, for the pur- 
pose of determining the practicability of constructing a canal through 
that valley to Lawrenceburg on the Ohio. Their joint report was 
made to the Legislature, and published among the documents of 
the session of 1884-35. At this session, the Legislature passed an 
act authorizing the making of surveys and estimates for canals and 
railroads in almost every part of the State. 

The several surveys of new canals in Indiana, ordered by the Leg- 
islature in 1835, were placed under his general supervision, in addi- 
tion to his charge of construction on the Wabash and Erie Canal, 
and throughout that year his professional duties were exceedingly 
diversified and laborious. Still, they were regarded by him as in- 
tensely interesting. A single exploring party, engaged under his 
directions, in ascertaining in advance of the survey ers, and for their 
guidance, the relative heights of various summits, and of the water- 
courses for the supply of the canals, ran accurately a continuous line 
of levels six hundred miles in extent between early spring and the 
succeeding autumn. More than five himdred miles ot definite loca- 
tion of canal lines were made by the diflerent location parties, and 
estimates thereof were reported to the Legislature in December, 
1838, by the respective Engineers under whose especial charge these 
surveys were made, with the general advice of Mr. Williams. 

On the passage of a law authorizing a general system of internal 



Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Williams. 419 



improvement, ajiproved January 27, 183G, Mr. "Williams was ap- 
j)ointe(l Chief Engineer of all the canals of the .State, including the 
Wabash and Erie Canal. 

At this period, he hail under his charge the several canal routes, 
amounting to about eight hun<lred miles, portions of which, on 
each work, were in progress of location and construction. In Sep- 
tember, 1H37, the Chief Engineer of railroads and turnpikes having 
resigned, these works (also under like progress,) were, by action of 
the State lioard of Internal Improvement, placed under the charge 
of Mr. Williams as State Engineer; his supervision then embraced 
more than l.;{0() miles of authorized public works. Afterwards, 
when the appointing j)0\ver was changed, he was elected by the 
Legislature to the same position, and continued therein until 1841, 
when the j)rosecution of the public works, except the Wabash and 
Erie Canal, was entirely suspended. 

Perplexing duties, and great labors and responsibilities were nec- 
essarily attached to the position which he so long occupied, as State 
Engineer of Indiana. The general j)rinciples of everv survey and 
location ; the plans of every important structure, and the lotting of 
all contracts, came, in their order, under his supervision. 

In the course of the summer and autumn of 1S38, no less than 13 
])ublic lettings of contracts took jilace by order of the Board of 
Internal Improvements. These lettings, which were held in differ- 
ent parts of Indiana, at intervals of al»out two weeks, embraced 
portions of each work included in the general sj'stem of internal 
improvements which hail been adojUed by the State. With such 
facilities for travelling as belonged to that period, a j)unctual attend- 
ance at the numerous lettings, and the making of necessary prepara- 
tions for those meetings of contractors, must have taxed the mental 
and jthysical energies of one man in no small measure. It was com- 
jtuted at the time by those who felt some interest in such matters, 
that the jourueyings of the State Engineer, performed mainly ou 
horseback, during the three months, amounted to at least three 
thousand miles. These facts illustrate, in some measure, the difli- 
culties that were encountered and overcome by the pioneers in the 
earlier improvements of the western country. 

After M'lrch, 1S4(). Mr. Williams, in a<ldition to his duties and 
responsibilities as State Engineer, became, by appointment of the 
Legislature, ex-oflicio member of the IJoard of Internal Improve- 
ment, and acting Commissioner of the Imliana division of the Wa- 
b,ash and Erie Canal. In the discharge of the various duties of 
these stations, he acted for a period of about two years, having 
charge, also, of the selections, management and sales of the canal 
lands. 

It may be of historic interest to state that the grant of alternate 
sections of land by Act of Congress of March 2, isi»7, to aid in the 
building of the Wabash and Erie Canal, was the initiation of the 
Land Grant policy, which has since given a financial basis to so 



420 Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Williajns. 



many of the leading public works of the country. As State Engi- 
neer, the public works in every part of the State were under his 
general charge, from 183G to 1842, and his special supervision of 
the Wabash and Erie Canal was continued during this period. 

The prostration of State credit that followed the financial revul- 
sion of 1840, checked the progress of works in the United States. 
From 1842 to 1847, the subject of this memoir was occupied in 
mercantile and manufacturing pursuits at Fort Wayne. Before leav- 
ing the capitol of the State ot Indiana, he was offered the Presi- 
dency of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, then about to be 
completed ; the offices of President and Chief Engineer being unit- 
ed in one. 

Alter five years' suspension, an arrangement was matured for the 
completion, to the Ohio river, of the Wabash and Erie Canal, and 
through this, as a basis providing for the adjustment of the Internal 
Improvement debt of the State. In 1847, the entire canal, with its 
canals, passed into the hands of a Board of Trustees, representing 
both the State and the holders of her bonds. The law creating this 
trust, and providing for the adjustment of the State debt, and the 
completion of the canal, required the appointment of " a Chief En- 
gineer of known and established character for experience and integ- 
rity." To this responsible position Mr. Williams was appointed, in 
June, 1847, at that date resuming the charge of this work, after five 
years' retirement. He yet occupies this position, with the sanction 
of the Trustees and that of the Governor, thus making'^his^ profess- 
ional charge of the Wabash and Erie Canal extend over a period of 
thirty-foiir years, having, at the same time, official connection with 
important railroads during the last 17 years. 

In February, 1854, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Fort 
Wayne and Chicago Railroad, which position Avas held up to the time 
of the consolidation with the Ohio and Pennsylvania, and Ohio and 
Indiana Railroads, in 185G. From that date to 1871, fifteen years, 
he has been a director of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago 
Railroad. 

In July, 1864, Mr. Williams was appointed by President Lincoln 
a director of the Union Pacific Railroad, on the part of the Gov- 
ernment. The term being but one year under the law, he was re- 
appointed each succeeding year until the work was completed, in 
1869, receiving commissions from three successive Presidents. 

As a member of the Standing Committee on Location and Con- 
struction, the important engineering questions connected with the 
location and plan of this work across the mountain ranges of the 
Continent, came within his sphere of duty, and called into exercise 
the professional experience which forty years of public service ena- 
bled him to wield. The engineers of the Company, themselves no 
doubt competent, appear to have entertained a high respect for the 
judgment of Mr. Williams. This was also the case with the Secre- 
tary of the Interior, to whom he frequently reported, and who 



Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Williams. 421 



fidopted his suggestions, and presented them to Congress in his of- 
licial report. 

Tlie otVicial communications and letters of Mr. Williams, written 
during this service, are of deep interest as illustrating the character 
of the country traversed by the route, and the i'ormidable natural 
obstacles which presented themselves, and occupy several pages of 
Mr. Stuart's volume. The documents referred to, also Itear evidence 
that the recommendations of Mr. Williams ■vvcre highly valued by 
the Government. 

On the 10th of January, ISGO, Mr. Williams was appointed Re- 
ceiver of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, by the United 
States Court tor the Western District of Michigan. 

This work, three hundred and twenty-five miles long, is designed 
to connect the city of Fort A\ ayne, and the region farther south, 
with Little Traverse Bay and the Straits of Mackinaw. In the dis- 
tribution of the lands granted by Congress to the State of Michi- 
gan, this work Avas endowed with a valuable laud grant. The work 
was commenced many years ago. A failure to negotiate its bonds, 
the natural result, perhaps, of a premature beginning in a district of 
country so little settled at that time, had caused very serious finan- 
cial embarrassments, and a suspension of the construction, with 
only twenty miles in running order. Other and rival interests were 
watching the haltmgs of this work in expectation of obtaining a 
transfer of the land grant for their benefit.^ 

Under the law of Michigan, a failure to complete twenty addi- 
tional miles by July 1, ISG'J, extending northward into the pineries, 
forfeited actually the land grant, valued at seven millions of dollars. 
The stake was large, the work to be done remote from settlements, 
and the time only some fifty days after the yielding of the frost. 

The court, for the ])rotection and benefit of all the interests in- 
volved, had ordered the Receiver to borrow money by pledge of the 
land, ami build the road as required by law. Seldom has so large a 
responsibility been laid on any one ; for no provision Avas made for 
a second etlort to recover the land grant, if lost by a single day in 
the time of completion. ]\Iuch interest Avas felt along the line, and 
Avith capitalists, who had already invested largely on the security of 
the land grant and the road. 

The following tL'legram, sent eight days before the time fixed by 
the statute, announced the result of the eflbrt : 

"Grand Rapids, June 22, 18G9. 
* To Ilitt Excdkncij, IJie Governor of Michirjnn: 
'' The last rail of the twenty miles Avas laid last evening. 

"J. I.. WILLIAMS." 

T>y further orders of the Court. J\Ir. William-, as Kcceiver, Avas 
authorized and directed to bniltl, and put in good running order, the 
entire remainder of the line belAveen Fort Wayne and tlie Muake- 



422 Pioneer Notes — Jesse L. Willim7is. 



gon river, a distance of 200 miles. In addition to the duties and 
responsibilities ordinarily belonging to a financial trust like this, he 
had also the professional charge, as Directing Engineer, of the work. 
These several duties were found so exacting as to leave no time for 
the proper performance of the Pacific Kailroad duties; and in Octo- 
bei', 18G9, he resigned his position as Government Director of that 
road. 

After being relieved from duty under the Government, he devo- 
ted his whole time and energies to the comj^letion of the 200 miles 
of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad north of Fort Wayne, 
and opened it for traffic early in October, 1810. One hundred and 
sixty miles of track was laid, besides closing up a large part of the 
grading, delivery of cross ties, etc., from the middle of April to the 
13th of September, 1870, a rate of progress which has not perhaps 
been equalled on any other work, except on the Pacific roads. 

The professional life of Mr. Williams has been, in a remarkable 
degree, full of useful activity. It is honorably and inseparably iden- 
tified with many of the great public enterprises which have affected 
important changes in the condition of the country. Commencing 
at a time when the superior advantages for carrying on of inland 
trade aud commerce by means of canals were attracting universal 
attention to their construction, he will probably close it long after 
this kind of improvement has become secondary in importance (ex- 
cept in peculiar localities,) to another of still higher perfection — the 
railroad. Indeed, it may be said that, in the region west- of the 
Allegheny mountains, he has witnessed the origin, the groiuth, the 
mahtrity^ and the decline of the canal system. 

Turning his attention early to railroad construction, he has devot- 
ed the last twenty years of his professional labors, mainly in aiding 
forward to successful completion some of the most prominent rail- 
roads in the country. 



ALFRED P. EDCtERTON. 

Mr. Edgerton was born at Plattsburg, Clinton county, New York, 
January 11, ISlo. He first appeared before the public as the editor 
of a newspaper in 1833, and in the fall of that year removed to New 
York, where he engaged in commercial pursuits. In the spring of 
1837, he removed to Ohio., to take charge, as agent, of the lands of 
Hicks & Co., and of the American Land Company; and established 
a Land Office at Hicksville, in what was then Williams county, now 
a part of Defiance county. At this office, about 107,000 acres of 
the lands of Hicks & Co , and of the American Land Company were 
sold by him. He became purchaser of the lands unsold, amounting 
to about 37,000 acres, in 1852. A larger number of people, now 
occupying cultivated and valuable farms in North- Western Ohio, 
derived their titles through Mr Edgertpn than from any qtber soiirce 



Pion eer Notes —A If ml P. Juhjcrion . 423 



except directly through the Federal or State Governments, and no 
liand Apcnt has ever been more forbearing or liberal in arrango- 
mcnts with actual settlers, struggling to secure for themselves the 
ownership of the acres they cultivated. 

In ls|."), he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, from the territory 
which then embraced the present Counties of Williams. Deiiance, 
Paulding. Van Wert, Mercer, Auglaize. Allen, Putnam, Henry, and 
part of Fulton. Up to this time, although accustomoil to exj)refis, 
on ])roj)er occasions, decided political convictions, he had not been 
active in caucusscs and conventions, and was only known to the 
]>eoi)le of the district as a sagacious and upright business man. The 
public questions of tliat period involved complicated matters relat- 
ing to hnance. the State banking system, metalic or paper money, 
the i)ublic debt, puVdic credit, and kindred issues; and regarding 
these matters, the public mind was greatly stirred. Malfeasance on 
the ])art of the financial ofticers of the Stute, and an unlawful ami 
useless sacrifice of the public stocks, by hyjiothecation to, and col- 
lusion with, banks and b.ankers, were among the charges upon which 
the dominant or Whig jtarty had been arraigned by the Democrats. 
The recognized leader of the Whig party, Avas the late Alired Kel- 
ley, who had been identified with the public improvement and finan- 
cial policy of the State, in various ofticial relations, since the origin 
of the public debt, and the commencement of the canal system. 
On the minority, or Democratic side, several Senators appeared as 
champions of the cause of the minority. Mr. Kelley had developed 
his financial policy — had introduced bills to sanction it by legisla- 
tion — had unmistakably beaten his antagonists, and was master of 
the field. Mr. Edgerton had been an attentive and patient observer 
of passing events, but, except voting when <]ue8tions came up, had 
taken no part in the debate. When the conflict, however, was ap- 
])roaching a close, he unexpectedly appeared in the arena, and, in 
clear and logical speeches, electrified the body by the accurate 
knowledge he evinced of details regarding the finances of the State, 
pointing out damaging discrejiancies, which had been overlooked in 
previous discussions, in the accounts and reports of various depart- 
ments of the State Government ; and ])roducing, altogether, an en- 
tirely new bill of indictment against the Whig party, in their man- 
agement of the fiscal business of the State. The battle which, on 
the part of the Whigs, was supposed to have been fought and won, 
was, it now became manifest, just commenced ; and Mr. Kelley soon 
lound in Mr. Edgerton a foeman more worthy of his steel than ho 
expected, or ever hoped to encounter, while tlio Democrats, from 
that time forward, recognized ^^r. P^dgerton as their leader. 

In ISoO, after the close of his brilliant career in the State Senate, 
Mr. Edgerton was elected to the House of Representatives of the 
Congress of the United States, and again elected in is,")r.\ Why he 
failed afl a candidate in 18.")G, is partly explained in the reminiscen- 
ces of Mr. Molt, of Toledo, which appear in succeeding pages. 



424 Pioneer Notes — Alfred P. Edgarton. 

During the Thirty-Second Congress, he was virtually Chairman 
of the Committee on Claims, performing the chief burden of the 
labor of that committee, and during the Thirty-Third Congress was 
its Chairman. 

His duties at the head of this important Committee were per- 
formed with diligence and fidelity. He gave searching examination 
to every claim entrusted to his Committee, and from his carefully- 
prepared reports and logical conclusions, protecting alike the Fede- 
ral Treasury and extending even-handed justice to worthy claim 
ants, no successful appeal was ever taken. This labor -afforded him 
less time to engage in the current debates, yet, when occasion offer- 
ed, he would enter this field, and his opinions never failed to com- 
mand the respect of the House. 

From 1853 to 1856, he was transfer or financial agent of the 
State of Ohio, in the city of Nev^ York, and kept his office at 64 
Beaver street. 

In 1857, he removed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, twenty-four miles 
from his residence at Hicksville, but retained his citizenship in Ohio 
until 1862. 

In 1858, he was one of the Committee to investigate the de- 
falcation in the Ohio State Treasury. 

In 1859, in connection with Hugh McCnlloch and Pliny Iloag- 
land, he became lessee of the Indiana canals, from the Ohio State 
line to Terre Haute, and assumed the position of general manager, 
and continued this position until 18G8. 

In January, 1868, he was nominated as the Democratic candidate 
for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, with Thomas A. Hendricks for 
Governor. 

The Democratic ticket was defeated by nine hundred and sixty- 
one votes. 

Outside of his positions in the Ohio Senate and in Congress, Mr. 
E. was Senatorial Delegate to the Baltimore Convention in 1848, 
from Ohio, and to the Chicago Convention, in 1864, from the State 
of Indiana. He has always been a Democrat; but since 1868 has 
not been in politics, preferring, as he has always done, a business, 
and not a political field of operations. 

Mr. E. could never become a successful actor in the school of poli- 
ticians, by which the unworthy, through mere craft ftnd bargain, 
often win their way to power. Hence, he has often rejected the sug- 
gestions of friends to enter the arena as a candidate for official place, 
and has inflexibly maintained what has been of more value to him 
than all else, an element of character which he never placed upon 
the market — his own self-respect. 



ClIAPTKK IX. 



Tin: OHIO I'OKTION OF THE VALLEY. 

Having coucliuleel our notes regarding tlic Indiana jiortion of the 
.Miiumee Valley, we now return to Northwestern Ohio, and arrange 
the seveml Counties, as near as practicable, according to the dates 
of their respective organizations. The first were formed during the 
same year, April, 1820; and we commence with 

WOOD COUNTY. 

In important events that are incorporated in the history of the 
United States, Wood County has been the theatre of transactions 
of high interest, the most prominent of which has already been des- 
cribed in preceding pages. For a considerable period, Fort Meigs, 
now Perrysburg, was the business mart of the lower portion of the 
Maumee Valley, and AVood County was the mother of many Coun- 
ties, its jurisdiction extending west to the Indiana, and north to the 
Michigan State line. The commission of Amos Spafford, " of ^li- 
ami, in Frie District, State of Ohio," as deputy postmaster, bears 
date the 9th of June, 1810, and was signed Gideon Granger, Post- 
master General. In the year 181G, the old jiost-oflice between the 
river Paisin and Lower Sandusky, and between the head of the 
^laumee Bay and Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), was at Fort Meigs 
— Almon Gibbs being postmaster. His compensation for that year, 
according to the official records of the Post Office Department, 
amounted to ^14.28. It may be proper here to mention that both 
sides of the river, and then embracing an area equal to more than 
the present surface of both Wood and Lucas Counties, was known 
as Fort Meigs, and that the post-office of that name was located on 
the northern, or Maumee City bank of the river. 

Among the historical incidents omitted in a previous chapter, is 
the fact that, on the 7th of April, 1790, Brigadier-General Wilkin- 
son despatched two messengers (Freeman and Gerard,) from Fort 
Washington to the Indians on the ^laumee; but they were captur- 
ed, and being taken for spies, were murdered near the rapids of the 
river, and the efforts of the government resulted in but little suc- 
cess, in so far as the direct desire for peace was concerned. 



426 Wood Cou7it}/ -lSi2-15. 



After the close of the war, several persons presented their claims 
for property taken and destroyed by Indians in the summer and fall 
of 1812, and in 1813, a list of whose names, and some of the prop- 
erty lost, are here appended : 

James Carlin, "one dwellinj^ house, or cabin, burned — estimated 
value, $110.00; one blacksmith shop, $55.00;" ami tlien is included 
the loss of a colt, '' two years old, taken by Wyandot Indians," and 
the valuation of $30.00 affixed. Following these, in the schedule of 
losses, occurs a barn and two out-houses; another dwelling house; 
"a horse, taken from Oliver Armstrong," valued at $00.00; " wheat 
of six acres in the barn burned; 4 tons of hay; clothing and bed- 
clothing, burned or stolen, making a total charge against the gov- 
ernment of $525. 

Similar bills were filed by William Carter; by George Blalock ; 
by James Slawson ; by Amos Spafford ; Samuel 11. Ewing; Jesse 
Skinner, Daniel Hull, Thomas Dick, Samuel Ewing, William Pe- 
ters, Ambrose Ilicox and Richard Sifford. The aggregate of these 
claims exceeded four thousand dollars — a small amount compared 
with the late " war claims." 

In support of these claims, "a meeting of the inhabitants, who 
resided at and near the Miami Eapids, prior to. the late war (1812), 
met at the dwelling house of Amos Spafford, on the evening of No- 
vember 8, 1815," and appointed a Committee to wait upon General 
William Henry Harrisoji, on his way to Detroit, and request of him 
such information and certificates as the said General may have in 
his possession respecting the corn that was found standing in poss- 
ession of the inhabitants on his arrival at this ])lace, in the winter 
of 1813; which corn was made use of by the army under his com- 
mand. Said meeting appointed Amos Spaflbrd and Captain Daniel 
Hull a Committee to wait upon General Harrison. The residents 
and claimants at this meeting were, Daniel Purdy, James Carlin, 
Jesse Skinner, William Peters, Baptiste Mommeny, Amos Spafford, 
Thomas Mcllrath, David Hull, Samuel H. Ewing, Samuel Ewing, 
George Blalock, and William Carter — twelve in all. 

On the 24th of November, 1815, Amos Spafford was appointed 
agent and attorney for William and Samuel Carter, Daniel Hull, 
William Peters, Samuel II. Ewing, Thomas Mcllrath, Chloe Ilicox, 
Samuel Ewing, William Skinner, James Carlin, Stacey Stoddard, 
Jacob Wilkinson, and John Redoad. Said Spafford was empowered 
to visit AVasliington, and apply to the Congress of the United States 
for indemnity for the loss of their property. 

Amos Spafford was also collector for many years, and, in 1814, 
made to the Treasury Department "a statement of the fees and 
emoluments of the collector's office at the port of Miami, in the 
year 1814." In this statement he credits himself for amount of sal- 
ary $2.50 ; expenses for office rent, $10, and fuel and stationery, 
$15.75, To this statement is appended the form of an affidavit, 
duly signed, Init foUo^'cd I'J tlie explanation that ''there being po 



Perri/al) nrg — Fremont — Ho w Nam^d. 427 



ofTicor legiilly authorized to administer oaths nearer than sixty or 
seventy miles, I have not been able to attend to that part of the 
iliity as the law rerjuires.'' 

Keganling the origin of the name given to Perrysburg, and the 
town opposite Frciuont, the following letter from the Commissioner 
of the lleneral Land UHice, possesses interest: 

""WAsirixfiTON City, April 1?. isin. 
"Dear Friend: 

"As you will have a town on the i^Iiami of 
Ihic, it will be v/ell to think of the name it is to bear. The act 
docs not give a name. Who is to christen it? I wish you would 
think on the subject, and let me have your wishes. For my part, I 
will barely suggest to you that, if it would be named Perryville, or 
I'errytown — or in some other form, which may always remind us of 
llie victory of Erie — \i\;o\\\(\.h^ good policy. We ought to make 
the best profit we can of the blood of our countrymen, which has 
been shed for tho confirmation of our Independence. 

" If it were left to me to name the town at Lower Sandusky, I 
iiould name it in honor of the gallant youth, Col. Croghan, — and 
would say it should be Croglianvillc. 
" I b^'lieve it is in your power to give the names. 
"I am respectfullv youis. 

"JOSIAH MEIGS. 
" A. STAFFORD, Esq." 

The following letter, written more than fifty years ago, by a high- 
ly esteemed citizen, yet living, will convey some idea of the country 
and its prospects, as they then existed, and as they appeared to many 
of the most far-sighted men of that time : 

"Fort Mekjs, 9th February, 1S22. 

"Dear Sir: 

"Feeling considerably interested in the measures proposed 
in Congress relative to this section of country, and not doubting 
your willingness to attend to any representations that might be com- 
municated, I take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you on 
thopo subjects. 

"I understand it is in contemplation to so alter the route of the 
great eastern mail to Detroit, that it shall not pats this place, but 
go l)y Port Lawrence, nine miles below, on the Maumee river. Also, 
to establish a land ollice at the river Kaisin, in .Michigan, for the 
sale of lands in this vicinity. Also, to remove the port of entry to 
Port Lawrence. And, also, I ])resume, from a motion of Mr. Sil)- 
ley, to open a road under the provisions of the lirownstown treaty, 
not from Sandusky to Fori .Vcigs, according to the terms of said 
treaty, but from Sandusky to Fort Lawrence. 

*' I have been a?topisbed at the fact thi;tone delegate from Michi* 



428 Pioneer Notes — Letter from Dr. Horatio Conant. 



gan should be able to have the brain, not only of a majority of Con- 
gress, but even of a considerable part of the Ohio Kepresentatives ; 
but from the success attending his motions, I am obliged to admit 
the fact as true. 

" Port Lawrence has no claims to notice by Congress, much less to 
be honored by the proposed sacrifices. The river Kaisin has no 
claim, in any shape, superior to Fort Meigs; and in point of situa- 
tion for a Land Office, or any other business, far inferior. It is 
witliin little more than thirty miles of the land office at Detroit. — 
Fort Meigs is not within one hundred miles of any office, except 
that at Detroit, and is seventy-five miles from that. 

" Eespectiug Port Lawrence, there is not, nor has there been for 
years, nor is there likely to be, more than three English families, in- 
cluding all within three miles of the place ; and whatever publics 
business is done there, must be done by one man, who is already In- 
dian agent and justice of the peace for Michigan. The distance pro- 
posed to be saved by altering the route of the mail, ought not to 
come in competition with the increased risk in crossing the Mau- 
mee river, which in that place is very wide, and open to the unbro- 
ken surges of Lake Erie. The same objection will lie with increas- 
ed weight, against opening a military road to cross the river there. 
It might as well cross the mouth of the bay, or any other part of 
Lake Erie. 

"If there was any business done at the place, or was likely to be, 
I should not so much object to the Customs Collector's office being 
removed there ; but at present I should esteem it ridiculous to en- 
tertain the idea. 

" I did not suppose it entirely necessary to make all the above 
statements to you, sir; but it was difficult: to say less, and say any- 
thing. You must pardon the apparent haste and carelessness with 
which this is written, as I have just returned from a week's absence, 
and the mail is on the point of being closed. 
" Yours, very respectfully, 

HOIJATIO COKANT. 
" Hox. Ethan A. Broavn", 

" Senator in Congress.'' 

The first session of the Commissioners of Wood County was held 
in the upper story of Almon Gibbs' store, on the 12th of April, 
1820. — Samuel H. Ewing. Daniel Ilubbell, and John Pray, Com- 
missioners — Daniel Hubbell acting as clerk of the Board. At this 
session, William Pratt was appointed County Treasurer. At the 
session of May 3, 1820, Seneca Allen was appointed Clerk to the 
Commissioners, and David Hull entered into bond as SherilF, Sam- 
uel Vance and Peter G.Oliver signing their names to^his official 
bond. C. J. McCurdy, Esq., presented an order of the Court mak- 
ing him an allowance of twenty dollars as compensation for his ser- 



rioneer Notes— Wood Cvuniy in 1820-23. 429 



vices as i)rosecutinp: attorney for Wooil County. Thomas R. Mc- 
Knight was allowed $23 for services as Clerk of the Court at the 
May term, 1820; and for receiving returns of poll-books, and certi- 
tviiig election of County ()Hicer.-=, an additional allowance of S5. — 
Ilnnt & Forsyth were allowed a bill fur stationery, amounting to 
SlD.r^A, and Almdu (libbs, for use of Court House for one year, 
from .May .'I. 18:20, the sum of SiO. Seneca Allen, Auditor, was 
allowed SI for publishing in tiie Columbus Ga/.etto the rates of tax 
on land fur road jjuipotes. Ceneral John E. Hunt was allowed 
Si l.v.") for services as lister of taxable jiroperty, and house appraiser. 
David Ilull was appointed County Collector. This session of the 
Commissioners was held at Maumee. The names of Samuel Vance 
and Aurora S]niflord appear as sureties on the oJlicial bond of Wil- 
liam Pratt, County Treasurer; and the names of Thomas K. ilc- 
Knight and Almon Giltlis as sureties on the otllcial bond of Seneca 
Allen, who had been chosen Auditor of Wood County by joint bal- 
lot of the General Assembly of Ohio. 

At a meeting of the Commissioners held on the 12th of August, 
1S20, a petition was presented from sundry citizens of Damascus, 
Henry County, i)raying to be attached to the township of Auglaize; 
which was read and granted. At the session held December 12th, 
1S2U, Daniel Hubbell, John E. Hunt, and Jolm Pray appeared as 
Commissioners. The Commissioners, at tlieir session held at Mau- 
mee on the -ith of March, 1822, appointed Thomas W. Powell Au- 
ditor o: the County for the then ensuing year. June 3, 182"^, the 
Commissioners appointed Walter Colton Treasurer of the County. 

A special session of the Board was held in Perrysburg, ^March 10, 
18~.'}, "convened for the purpose of attending to the erection and 
repairs of the public buildings of the county.'' At this session the 
Commissioners were John Pray, Samuel Spatford and Hiram P. 
Barlow. The Board examined "the county jail, " wliich had been 
removed from the town of Maumee, and erected in the town of Per- 
rysburg, agreeable to a certain contract entered into for tlmt pur- 
l»ose with Daniel Hubbell." 

The Board ordered that so much of the township of Auglaize as 
is contained in the unorganized county of Henry, be set off and or- 
ganized into a township by the name of Damascus; that so much 
of the township of Waynestleld as is included in the unorganized 
county of Hancock, be set off and organized in^o a township by the 
name of Findlay, aiul that the election for townshii) officers be JielJ 
on the first day of July, A. D. 1823, at the house of Wilson Vance, 
in the said townshij). And it was further ordered that so much of 
the township of Wayncalield as is inchuKd in the organized County 
of Wood, and lying and being on the south of the south channel of 
the Maumee river, from the west line of the County to the line Ix;- 
tween the original surveyed township in Nos. one and four in the 
United States Reserve; thence the north channel to the State lino, 
be set off and organized into a township by the name of Perrysburg; 



430 Pioneer Notes — Wood County in 1823. 



and that the election for township officers be held on the 19th day 
of June, A. D. 1823, at the house of Samuel Spafford, in said town- 
ship. 

The Board of Commissioners at their June session, 1823, fixed 
the rate of taxation of stock as follows: on horses, marcs, mules, 
and asses of three years old and upwards, the sum of thirty cents 
per head ; on all neat cattle of throe years old and upwards, the sum 
of ten cents per head, and on all other property made subject to 
county levies the sum of one half of one per cent, on the appraised 
value thereof 

James H, Slawson presented a petition to the Board asking the 
appointment of viewers to examine and lay out a County road com- 
mencing at the river in front of tract No. 28, of the United States 
Eeserve of twelve miles square at the foot of the rapids of the Mi- 
ami of Lake Erie in said County; thence on a direct line as the na- 
ture of the ground will admit, to the saw-mill of Levering & Stew- 
art, on Swan Creek. 

The Board at their session of March, 1824, made a settlement 
with Daniel Hubbell and Guy Nearing for erecting the Court 
House at Perrysburg. 

The County was named from the brave and chivalrous Colonel 
Wood, a distinguished officer of engineers in the war of 1813. 

The first Court was the May term, 1820. No civil cases appear on 
record — the State of Ohio appearing as plaintiff V5. Thomas Gainor, 
George Jones and Isaac Richardson, for resisting the sheriff, George 
Patterson, for assault and battery, etc. The County was then in 
the Third Judical Circuit, and George Tod, father of the late Gov- 
ernor David Tod, was President Judge, and Horatio Conant, Sam- 
uel Vance and Peter G. Oliver Avere associate Judges. " The follow- 
ing named gentlemen, good and legal citizens of said County,'' com- 
posed the grand jury : ^Yilliam H. Bostwick (foreman), Aaron Gran- 
ger, John T. Baldwin, Parris M. Plum, Aurora SpaflFord, Jeremiah 
Johnston, William Pratt, Ivichard Gunn, Collister Haskins, Eph- 
raim H. Leming, Josephus Tilor, Daniel Murray, John Hollister, 
Norman L. Freeman, and John J. Lovett (15). 



PuoGUESs IN Taxable Wkaltii. — In 1820, tlic value of lands, 

including liouses, returned as a basis for taxation, amounted to. $10,704 00 

Value of town lots and buildings 23,230 00 

Value ofj^personal property 24,952 00 

Total valuation $88,88G 00 

In 1830-value of lands $38,158 00 

" " town lots 27,222 00 

" " personal^ property 15,884 00 

Total valuation $81,264 00 



Wood County- -Statistics. 431 



In 1810— value of lands $299,673 00 

town lots L'16,244 00 

" " personal property 62,082 00 

Total val nation $577,999 00 

In 1850— value of lands $890,736 00 

value of town lots 107,60:3 00 

value of i)ersonal properly 19(5,844 00 

Total valuation $1,195,183 00 

In 18G0— value of lands $2,353,142 00 

town lots 253,100 00 

pei-sonal property 800,176 00 

Total valuation $3,406,418 00 

In l!?70— value of lands $2,621,271 00 

town lota 806,250 00 

" personal property 1,809,090 00 

Total valuation $4,737,217 00 

In 1872— value of lands $5,675,274 00 

town lots 515,047 00 

" " personal property 2,253,740 00 

Total valuation $8,444,0'j1 00 



The following is a comparative statement of real and personal estate in tlic 
principal towns : 

In It'GO — value of real and personal estate in Pcrrvsburj^ $171,363 00 

In 1870— value of same ". 203,736 00 

In 1872— value of same ^59,732 00 

In IBtJO — value of real and personal estate in Grand Itapids... 33,503 00 

In 1870— value of same t-3,210 00 

In 1872— value of same 131.302 00 

In 1800 — value of real and personal estate in Bowling Green 01,890 00 

In 1870— value of same 154,098 00 

In 1872— value ot same 201,292 00 

In 1870 — value of real and personal estate in ilaskins 27,5^6 00 

In 1872— value of same 71,131 00 



PoPtJLA.Tios. — The following exhibits the progress of Wood County in poji- 
ulation ; though the reader will bear in mind that, when organized, the Coun- 
ty embraced the larger portion of the Ohio area in the Maumee ValUy : 

In 1820 733 

In 1830 1,102 

In l!<40 5,357 

In 1850 »,157 

In 1800 17,886 

In 1870 24,5ya 



432 



Wood County — Statistics. 



The following census returns mark the progress of the townships unci the 
towns : 



TOWNS AUD TOWNeUIPS. 


1870 


18G0 


1850 


Bloom 


1394 
1331 

906 
1089 

68") 

347 
1120 

965 
1221 

243 
1464 
1636 
1323 
4100 
1835 
1719 
1069 
1057 
1321 

922 
1833 


1198 

892 

'97i 
454 
144 
551 
635 
652 

"675 

1575 

1292 

2834 

1491 

1300 

833 

898 

899 

671 

1359 


65R 


Centre (a) 


357 


Bowlino" Green (a) 




Freedom 


454 


Henry 


321 


Jackson 


74 


Lake 


152 


Liberty 


236 


Middletown 


331 


Haskins 




Milton 


241 


Montgomery 

Perry 


922 

888 


Perrysburi' 


1779 


Perrysburg , 


1199 


Plain (a) 


492 


Portage 


403 


Troy 


559 


Wash ington 


504 


Webster 


237 


Weston 


546 







(a) Of Bowling Green : 471 in Centre, and ^35 in Plain. 

And of Wood County, from 1820, when its jurisdiction embraced a larger 
portion of Northwestern Ohio, down to 1870, including the intermediate decen- 
nial periods : 

In all the vast region mentioned, the County]of Wood, 

In 1820, had a populatiou'of 733 

In 1830, " " " 1,090 

In 1840, " " 5,325 

In 1850, " " 9,139 

In 1860, " " 17,883 

In 1870, " " ; 24,553 

And the area betv/een each period of the Federal census being 
continually diminishing — some of the daughters of old "Wood coun- 
ty now excelling her in population and wealth. 



Peruysburg in 1833. — In tlie first number of the Miami of the 
Lake, Jessup "W. Scott, editor, issued December 11, 1883, the mar- 
riage, at Lower Sandusky, on the 22d of November, 1833, by II. J, 
Harmon, Esq., of John C. Spink, of Perrysburg, to Miss Christiana 
Smith, of the former place, is announced. 

The death of Chloe, only child of J. SpafTord, of Perrysburg, 
aged two years, which occurred on the Gth of December, 1833, is 
also published. 



PeiTyiiburg in 1838. 433 



The iidvevtisers consist of S. Spink & Co., wlio announce new 
i;(»nds '• clu':ii»fr thun the cheiipest.'' 

William Marshall issues an attuchment from the Justice' Court 
of Horatio Conant, Es<[., a Justice of the Peace of Wayneslield 
township, Wood County, Ohio, against the goods, cliattels, etc., of 
Mii'hael Ireland, an absent debtor. 

llollister & Wendell have on hand Russia and .Swede iron, En- 
i;lish blistered steel, etc. 

(t. \^. Abell & Co., advertise flour and meal. 

Wni. Fowlir & Co. advertise dry goods. 

J. C. Spink and J. W. Scott insert their law cards. 

'I'he announcement is made that the Auditor's and Mayor's 
offices had been removed to the room up stairs, over Sjiink & 
Co.'s store, Louisiana avenue, between Front and Si'cond streets. 

R. A. Forsyth & Co. date an advertisement at '*Mauniee \'illaofe, 
December 11, 18:33,'' in wiiicii they say that they have lately receiv- 
ed from New York a full supply of dry goods, groceries, hardware, 
cutlery, ajid ail other articles usually found at the best couutrv 
stores, which they offer the public on favorable terms. 

John lioUister <fc Co. oti'er at auction sale, at the city of Sandus- 
ky, on theJJst of January, 1834, the schooner Guerriere, of lifty 
tons. 

John Hollister, R. A. Forsyth, and D. Wilkinson, advertise for 
■JOO sound white oak knees, for which one dollar will be paid, deliv- 
ered at David Wilkinson's. 

]k'SixF:ss AT Perrysbuhg in 1838.— On the 18th of August, 
1838, H. 'i\ Smith issued the tirst number of The Ohio Whi(j, — a 
journal that succeeded J. H. McBride's Miami of the Lake. 

In the U7</y ai)i)earsan advertisement of A. Smith, township clerk, 
who announces that sealed jiroposals will be received at G. Beech's 
st >re, for grubbing, ditching, and turtipikiug 150 rods on the Mc- 
CutcheonviUe or Columlms road, in the immediate vicinity of Per- 
rysburg. Also, the grading of the hill on the road, near Key's resi- 
dence. 

Lorin R. Austin, Henry Darling, and Addison Smith, school ex- 
aminers, have an official notice 

Leonard Blinn cautions the public against the purchase of a note 
of hand made payable to Daniel Fickle. 

George Powers invites his debtors to call and settle. 

J. Manning Hall advertises merchandise. D. W. Christian in- 
vites attention to his stock of cabinet ware, etc.; anil Peck & Gris- 
wold enumerate sundry leading articles of merchandise. Joseph 
Creps and Henry Zigler oiler at a bargain that tract of land and 
tavern stand, situated four miles east of Perrysburg, on the San- 
dusky turnpike, containing eighty acres. T. Rudesill says that he 
has just received, from the eastern cities, new goods, which he was 
then opening at the old stand of S. Spink, and recently occupied by 

28 



434 Bowling Green in 1872. 



Hall & Eudesill. George PoAvers advertises dry goods, hardware and 
books. 

Among the law cards are those of J. Pnrdy, (of Mansfield,) and 
W. V. Way, J)avid Allen, Henry I3ennctt, John M. May, Samuel M. 
Young, J, C. Sjtink, and A. Coffin berry, Isaac Stetson, and Horace 
Sessions, of Deiiance N. Dustin is the only physician who adver- 
tised. 

David Crops advertises leather. T. C. Woodruff wants 25,000 
bushels of ashes. Walter Buell offers his services as a painter, gla- 
zier, etc. C. T. Woodruff was in tlie hardware trade. J. Hollister 
& Co. were daily receiving large supplies of produce, which they 
offered low for cash, 

'i'lie stea-mboats Commodore O. H. Perry, Ca])t. David Wilkinson ; 
Antliony AVayne, C:ipl. Amos Pratt; an(i Kochester, are advertised 
as making regular trips l)ef\veen Perrysburg and Buffalo; the Caro- 
line, Captain ( !. Porry, between Perrysburu, Maumee, Toledo, Man- 
hattan und Clcvelaiul ; and the Sun, C. K. Bennett, master, between 
ToI('(h), Maunu^e and Perrysburg. 

Sidney C. Sloane, County Auditor, under the direction of the 
Commissioners of Wood County, offers at public sale sevei'al lots in 
Perrysburg. 

Bowling Green, the seat of justice, contains Congregational, 
Methodist and Presl)yterian ciiurches; a well-conducted public 
school system ; a newspaper ofliice, from which the Wood County 
8(!ntiii£l, M. P. Brewer, editor, is issued; one Lodge of Masons, one 
private bank; three hott-ls; five dry goods, five grocery, two boot 
and shoe, two ])rovision, three drug, and two hardware stores; one 
photograph gaJh'ry; two miUinery establislmicnts ; two jewelers; 
one planing mill and sash factory; two wagon and carriage, and 
four blacksmith shops; oneashery; three livery stables; two meat 
ma,rkets, and two bakeries. 

The town is situated very near the g('o.;ra])hi<',al, as well as the 
centre of i)opuhition and wealth of Wood County. Its public build- 
ings, including Court House and jail, are new and substantial struc- 
tures, the f>)rmer built by private enterprise, without charge upon 
the County Treasury, and they will compare favorably with the 
average of county buildings in Ohio. 



Business at Perrysburg T>r 1872. — In the foregoing tables, it 
appears that the population and taxable wealth of Perrysburg have 
steadily increased. The toAvn contains seven churches, viz: three 
Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian, one Catholic, one Baptist, 
and one Lutheran; a Masonic Lodge (one of the mest flourislimg in 
the Slate); Good Templars and Sons of Temperance Lodges; well- 
conducted public schools, in elegant and substantial buildings, and 
an excellent parochial school, under the management of the Catho- 
lics ; one newspaper — the Peirysburg Joi(r:<(iJ — James Timmons, 
editor ; one bank ; two hotels ; and of stores, seven dry goods ; two 



Pm-ryRhunj in 1872. 435 



drug ; two flour and feed ; two l»;irdware ; one boot and shoe ; six- 
tt'on Lirocery ; one knitting niruliini' depot, and one house selling ag- 
riculluial inacliinfry anil iiupli tiunts. 

Of inanutact nrini;. there is one huh and spoke; two of boxes ; 
(wo of stave- and lK'a<lin<^s ; one of howls; one tannery ; one grist 
mill; three saw mills; one shingle factory; two planing mills ; two 
manufacturers of furniture; one ot veneering; two of wagons, and 
t\^o of \vau<»ns aiid carriages; one ashery ; three hlacksniith shops; 
two saddle and liarness shops, two good nieut markets, and one 
cigar factory. 

Till' town also contains one grain elevator, and two warehouses. 
The Court House — the ancient judicial sanctuary of Wood County 
— was desti'oyed by lire in the summer of 1871 ; but a new and 
mure elegant building is now being erected on the grounds of the 
former structure. 



Cajitaiu David Wilkinson, Injrn February, 1800, sailed \\]) the 
Maumee river, on his lirst visit to the valley, in May, 181.5, as a hand 
on board the scIiomikt Black Snake, a vessel of about 25 tons bur- 
den, commantlfd by his uncle, Jacob Wilkinson, and ownetl by his 
father and said uncle. He was then a boy, aged alxiut 15. The passen- 
gers were immigrants, who embarked at Cleveland, and their d<'stina- 
ti<>n was for the valleys of the rivers Maumee ami Raisin; andam(»ng 
those for the latter was the family of Mulliollen, who kept the noted 
tavern at Vienna some years later; also, a Mr. Hunter and family, 
Scott Kobb, and a Mr. llojikins, who settled on land a little above 
the present villagi' of Perry&burg. The schooner landed herjiassen- 
gers and cargo from the bayou, at the uj)i)cr enil of town, there be- 
ing then no wharf or otlvr artilicial facilities for conimerci\ It was 
a wild forest where I'errysl>urg now stands. David Hull and Thos. 
McKlrath were there, trading with the Indians, and keeping taverns 
in log houses on the hill-side, between Fort Meigs and the river. — 
Halsey Leamming then lived in a log house near where Mrs. Ladd 
now resides, — Tiiomas Leamming, his brother, residing with him. 
.less'- Skinner and family lived on the flats near the river, on tlie 
tract immediately east of Eher Wilson's farm; Thomas Dicks, a 
bachelor Irishman, on the same tract; and Samuel Ewing on the 
Key tract, m-ar the river. 

tort Meigs, at this time, was occupied by about 40 soldiers, uniler 
the command of a Lieiit<'nant ; Almon Ctibbs being <|iiartermaster. 
The government was then about abandoning the Fort, and Captain 
Wilkinson t^iok to Detroit, on his return, four he ivy pieces of can- 
non, ami the r 'mainder of the military stores. 

The fishing business was then an important interest, and regular- 
ly carried on by the use of seines. 

The vessel named made two trips that season into the river from 
Cleveland ; and on the second trip came for a loatl of tish. Captain 
Jacob Wilkinson made two trips with his vessel in the following 



436 Pioneer Notes — Captain David] Wilkinson. 



year, 1816, and, abont the first of September of that year, built a 
house between the Fort and the river, near David Hull's. This lo- 
cation was afterwards laid out into a town, and called " Orleans of 
the North." 

About the 1st of June, 1817, William and John Hollister arrived 
with a stock of goods from Buffalo, and started a store at Orleans. 
Joshua Chappel, in April, 1817, and several families, came as pas- 
sengers that year on the schooner Black Snake, then under com- 
mand of Capt. David Wilkinson, which schooner continued its trips 
until the close of the navigable season of 1818, but was commanded 
that year by her part owner, Capt. Jacob Wilkinson. 

In 1818 Capt. Daniel Hubbell bought a controling interest in the 
schooner Pilot, built in Cleveland, and Capt. David Wilkinson took 
comniand of her, and run her the seasons of 1818-19, between the 
foot of the rapids and Buffalo. She took, as freight, from the towns 
at the foot of the rapids, furs, fish and corn; and brought back pas- 
sengers, merchandise, salt and lumber. David W. Hawley came 
from Black Rock in 1817, and in the fall of that year built the first 
frame house in Perrysburg. This house was built on the side hill, 
between the saw-mill and Front street. Thomas R. McKnight mov- 
ed to Perrysburg in 1821, from Wooster, Ohio, and built a log house 
and office on Front street. Between 1821 and 1825, a log house was 
put up on the corner of the lot where Peak's drug store now stands; 
one on the lot where Creps' store is, and one on the corner ; where 
the Presbyterian Church stands. 

In 1825, Samuel Spafford built the"Spafibrd Exchange" hotel, 
now known as the " Norton Exchange." In the same year, Judge 
J. H. Jerome built the frame house now owned by Getz, and near 
the Houston store. In 1826, the Court House and jail were built. 
William and John Hollister built a frame store in 1826, on the 
ground now occupied by Dr. Peck's hardware store, and in the 
spring of 1827, removed their goods into it. Frank Hollister con- 
tinued to trade in the old store at Orleans. They also built a ware- 
house and dock at the foot of Louisiana avenue, on the easterly side. 
Their's was the only store in Perrysburg, until the fall of 1833, 
when William Fowler established a store in the frame building near 
the old Court House. The next store was opened by Shibnah Spink 
(brother of John C), in the spring of 1834. Joseph Creps moved 
into Perrysburg in the spring of 1833, and the same year built the 
brick tavern afterwards known as the Baird House. 

In 1828 a two- story frame tavern was built on Front street, near- 
ly opposite the Exchange, by Wm. Bigger. In 1834, or 1835, Kel- 
logg & Wheeler built and opened a frame store building, on the cor^ 
ner of Front street and Louisiana avenue, on the ground now occu- 
pied by Hitchcock's store, which constituted the fourth store in Per- 
rysburg in 1835. The next store was opened by Gilbert Beach and 
C. C. Bennett. In 1836, George Powers opened a store, and in 1837 
James M. Hall and Tobias Rudisill appeared with a stock of goods. 




^fe>^^^; f^ ^;%i^:_ 



Pioneer Notes — WUlard V. Way cmd Other a. 43 Y 



Dr. George W. Wood came in the spring of 1828. — the first phy- 
sician who st'ttk'd in Porrysbnrg. [Thi' firnt liiwyL-rd appear in the 
ri'niinisct-nci'S of Hon. Thos. W. PdwcII.] 

Capt. l^jivid Wilkinson [who coinninnioiitfs th''Si' notes to Willard 
V. Way, Esq.,] contiinn'd his C(jnnection with didercnt vessels in the 
Manmet-' river trade, until 1828, when he rmioved his family to Per- 
ryshurg. During tliis jKTiod, he had commanded, snccissively, the 
Black Snake, Pilot, Nancy Jane, President, Superior, Guerriere, and 
p]agle. The Eagle was a schooner of 00 tons, huilt at Port Law- 
rence [now Toledo,] in 1828, at a cost of ^3.0i)0. Capt. Wilkinson 
command»'d her until May. 1835 : during which time 'she paid for 
herself five times over, clear of all expenses. 

Leaving the Eagle at this date (May, 1835), Capt. Wilkinson was 
j)laced in command of the new steamer " Commodore Perry." in 
which position lie continued untd the spring of 1H15, when he as- 
sumed comm;ind of the steamer "Superior." in which position he 
continued until the close of the lake navigation of 18r)2, which 
closed his long and honorable marine service upon the lakes. 



Willard V. Way (to whom is due that the writer of this, and in 
this j)lace, acknowledge obligations for much ol' histor'cal value em- 
bixlied in these pajjes,) was born at Springlield, Otsego county, New 
York, August 2. 1807, and came to Perrysburg to reside on the 13th 
April, 1834, having spent part of the previous year at Painesville, 
Oliio. He commenceJ his law studies with Hon. H. J. Kedtield, in 
LeRoy. New York, and tinished his reading with Messrs. Matthews 
& (Judge) Hitchcock, in Painesville, Ohio, and came from there to 
Perrysburg at the time al)ove stated. Mr. Way marrit^d Miss So- 
jthia Hi^lge, of Bulfalo, New York. ^lay 20, 1835. lie has been 
successful in business life, and now, at the age of 05, is in good 
health, and among the most respected citizens of Perrysburg. 



William Ewing. whose family have been hitherto mentioned, was 
the son <if Samuel H. and Sally P. Ewinii, and was horn near where 
Clyde, Ohio, now stands, while the family w<'re on the route remov- 
ing from Monroe county, New Y^ork, to the Maumee river, in May, 
1><12. Of a familv of eleven children, consisting of two boys and 
nine girls, Judge William Ewing, the subject of this notice, is one 
of three survivors. After the breaking out of the war of 1812, the 
family left for Bellefontaine, now Logan county, Ohio, and returned 
after the close of the war. 



Aaron S. Dresser emigrat<d to J'ortage townHhip. Wood County, 
southeast <|uarter of section twenty-five, in June. 1S24. He entertd 
his land at the Rueyrus oflice. in May. 1834. The names of those 
then in the township, who had ]ireeeded him, were Callister lias- 
kins. .Joseph ('ox, Jacob Eberly. and a few otlu'rs, probably. A road 
was partly cut out to Perrysburg, covered most of tl.e year by 
water. 



438 Early Historg of Mercer County. 



MERCER COUNTY. 

Coeval with the formation of Wood County, and under the same 
legislative enactment, was that of Mercer; though, for judicial pur- 
poses, it remained with Darke until 1824. The county was named 
from General Hugh Mercer, a Virginia officer, who fell at Prince- 
ton, during the colonial rebellion, Jan. 3, 1777. In historic interest, 
the county, as originally formed, possesses matter of rare value. St. 
Clair's battle was fought on the line of this and Darke county, in 
1791, and the trace oi' Wayne is yet discernible through the county, 
leading from Fort Recovery to Fort Adams. Simon Girty, at one 
time, lived on the right bank of the St. Mary's (now within Au- 
glaize county), and between the river and canal. The ancient fort, 
St. Mary's, built by Wayne, occupied the west l)ank of the river. 

In the official report of General Wayne, dated " Head-Quarters, 
Greenville, 7th July, 1794," the following is extracted : 

"It would also appear that the British and savages expected 
to find the artillery that were lost on the 4th of ISTovember, 1791, 
and hid by the Indians in the beds of old fallen timber, or logs, 
which they turned over and laid the cannon in, and then turned the 
logs back into their former berth. It was in this artful manner that 
we found them deposited. The hostile Indians turned over a great 
number of logs, during the assault, in search of those cannon, and 
other plunder, which they had pr()bal)ly hid in this manner, after 
the action of the 4th November, 1791, I therefore havo reason to 
believe that the British and Indians depended much upon this artil- 
lery to assist in the reduction of that post ; fortunately, they served 
in its defence. The enclosed copies of the examination of the Pot- 
tawotomy and Shawanee prisoners, will demonstrate this fact, that 
the British have used every possible exertion to collect the savages 
from the most distant nations, with the most solemn promises of 
advancing and co-operating with them against the legion, nor liave 
the Spaniards been idle upon this occasion. 

"It is therefore more than probable that the day is not far distant 
when we shall meet this hydra in the vicinity of the Grand Glaize 
and Roche de Bout, without being able to dis.^riminate between the 
white and red savages. In the interim, I am in hourly expectation 
of receiving more full and certain intelligeu-;e of the number and 
intention of the enemy." 

The earliest settlement of Mercer County was made at Fort Re- 
covery, in 1818, the first family being that of Mr. Siniison. In about 
1822, Peter Studabaker came to the pLice, marrie 1 a daughter of 
Mr. Simison, and resided at the place until 1834, when he removed 
to Indiana. The next settlers appeared in about 1828, and were 
composed of the families of David Anderson, Daniel Freeman, Geo. 
Arbaugh, William Monev, James Cummings, und William and Jas. 
McDarnell. In 1833, the familes of John G. Blake (first Justice of 
the Peace in Gibson township, which office he held twenty-one con- 



The Slain of St. Clair s Army. 489 



secutive years), Alexander Grant, George PaiiiUT, aiul IL iiiv Tiijipd, 
also SL'ttk'd ill the tu-ighhorliuod. 

Till- remains of the ctticers who had been })uried in their uniforms, 
wen- disinterred and buried in the eemet^-rv in 1838. 

It will be remembered that General Anthony Waynt , while in the 
ocenpancy ot" Fort Recovery, in I7'J4, ottered a reward lor the col- 
leotion of the remains of the soldiers that had perished dnrinp; the 
unfortunate campaign of St. Clair. Between oOO and (J0(» skulls 
weri' Collected, in the vicinity, and interred in a crave within the 
walls of the stockade. Durini,^ the sumnuT of 18.")!, u freslu t cut a 
new channel, and exposed some (d' the remains of this sejmliure. — 
The fact becomiui^ known to the citizens, they assemoled and ex- 
humed all the remains that could l)e found, and placed the most of 
them in thirte -n bhick walnut coilins, and extended a genera! invi- 
tation to the surviving soldiers from this and other States, who had 
participated in the cam|»aigns of Harmar. 8t. Clair, and Wayne, to 
join them in the funeral ceremonies of a final interment in the cem- 
etery, on the 10th «)f September, 1851. In accordance with this in 
vitation, people from Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, numbering at 
least 5,0(.)0, assembled on the ground on the day na ned, and })artici- 
pated in the funeral ceremonies. The principal address on the oc- 
casion was made by Judge Bell.imy Storer, of Cincinnati. 

From the Western Slanddrd (Cilina, Sept. 18. 1851.) 

The lOth of September, 1851, will long lie remembered by those 
who partici|)ated in jiaying the sad tribute to the memory of the 
slain of St. Clair's army, recently discovered at P'ort Recovery. The 
morning was clear, bright, and warm, and, as the sun arose and cast 
his bt-ams over the plain, made sacred by the blood of that brave 
band, every avenue leading to the village was crowded with human 
beings; so that, by ten o'clock, the coiicounse numbered from 4,UU0 
to o.OOO souls. 

It may be proper at this time to state^ that, on the morning of 
the 7th of July last, a human skull was discovered, partly covered, 
in one of the streets of Fort Recovery, and adjacent to the ground 
upon which had been erecbd the fort bearing that name. Recent 
heavy rains had washed off the earth. The discovery induced a 
Search, and the nsult was, that the sktdetons of some sixt}' persons 
were exhumed, in a good state of preservation. The citizens of Re- 
covery held a meeting the next day, and resolved to re-inter the 
bones, and appointed a committee to make suitable arrangements for 
the occasion. 

The fore part of the day was occupied in placing the bones in the 
cothns — thirteen having been provided by the committee, represent- 
ing each State in exibtence at the time the battle was fought. This 
was very apj)ropriate, inasmuch as it is believed that every State in 
the Union was represented in that battle. 

While the cothns were being filled, the ])eo|'le had an opportunity 
to examine the bones, — many of which bore marks of the bullet and 



440 The Slain of St. Claires Army. 



tomahawk. We handled a number that had been perforated by a bullet, 
and had also a gash — smoothly cut by the tomahawk ; and, in dif- 
ferent parts, marks made by a sharp instrument were discernible, 
said by old soldiers present to have been produced by the scalping 
knife. We saw a number of relics that were found on and near the 
battle-field, such as a sword, iron and lead balls, knives, ramrods, 
etc. The sword was about three feet long, and had a heavy brass 
guard around the hilt. The blade, on the edge and back, and the 
guard, bore evident marks of a desperate conflict, being literally cut 
in gaps and gashes. 

The committee of arrangements appointed'^officers of the day, and 
a procession wes formed under the direction of Gen. James Watson 
Kiley, assisted by several aids. One hundred and four pall bearers, 
selected from the different^counties represented, headed the process- 
ion in charge of the coflBn, and were followed by the soldiers pres- 
ent, ladies and citizens, which formed a column a mile long, and 
marched to the stand erected on the soath side of the village, in full 
view of the battle ground, where an oration was pronounced by Hon. 
Bellamy Storer, who was invited for the occasion. 

The speaker's introductory referred to the scenes enacted on that 
very ground, on the 4th of November, 1791 — contrasting the then 
horrible wilderness with the present civilized, cultivated and flour- 
ishing appearance of the country. He dwelt on the position of St. 
Clair's army at the time of the attack ; the position of the enemy — 
their advantages, and the fatal results of the conflict, — paying a 
merited tribute to the brave, though unfortunate commander, and 
his more unfortunate men. ***** 'pjjg 
speaker made a beautiful allusion to the thirteen coffins. They did 
not contain the bones of the people of Massachusetts, or Kentucky, 
or Pennsylvania, or Maryland, or the Caroliuas, or any other par- 
ticular section, but were the representatives of the whole ukiok, 
engaged in a common conflict in defence of the rights of the Amer- 
ican Compact. Their names and locality are unknown. Heaven's 
register alone can record their deeds of valor and patriotism, and 
show where or to whom they belonged. They died a common and 
martyr death for the Union we live to enjoy, and which it is our 
duty to protect, and our highest honor to cling to and perpetuate. 
Under it, man may be independent of everything but his God. Not 
so in the old world. There confusion and commotion prevail ; po- 
litical and religious tyranny reign ; and the American mission is to 
infuse the principles of Liberty into the masses of Europe, by liv- 
ing up to our privileges as Americans — every man being independ- 
ent of everything but his God — preventing everything that ha-^ a 
tendency towards disunion, or tlie mitigation of a single stripe or 
star on our national flag. Universal education, and the advance- 
ment of science, are the sure foundations of our perpetuity. * 

* * * Our limited space will not admit a more full 

report of Judge Storer's speech. The Judge was followed by Gen, 
Bell, President of the day, in a short, patriotic speech. 



Mercer Co. — First Sesmxii of Cornmismoners. 441 



Gen. Haines, from the committee on resolntions, rejwrted a series 
urgin<]f Coni,nvss to appropriate money to erect a monnment at Fort 
Recovery, and one at Greenville, (committees, compt)sed of citizens 
of the ditt'crfnt counties represented, were appointed to solicit con- 
tributions for the furtherance of that object. Messrs. Benjamin 
Linzee, J. W. Riley, II. V. Junnemann, and two others, whose 
names we did not learn, were appointed on the part of Mercer 
County. 

The procession was then re-formed in the order it came to the 
stand, and moved to the burying ground on the south 8i<le of the 
village, and the cottins were deposited in one grave, divided otf with 
boards, each division or vault containing two coffins. 

The last act being performed, the people left the cemetery, each 
persuaded tiiat ht- h:ivl performed a patriotic duty. It is true, we 
could not revive or benefit those <lry bones ; but their history is the 
foundation t.f our history. St. Clair's defeat was an entering wedge 
to the attainment of the blessings we now enjoy. Let us remem- 
ber those patriots with grateful hearts, and by doing honor to their 
memory, "■ instil into the masses of the old world the principles of 
liberty." 



The first session of the County Commissioners was held at 8t. 
Mary's, the original county seat, April 17, iH'Jf. Commissioners, 
Lucas Van Ansdall, Ansel Blossom and Thomas Scott. 

At the June term of the same year, John P. Hedges was appoint- 
ed Treasurer pro tem., and executed bfmds, and appointed Samuel 
Hanson as dej>uty. who agre^ d to collect, for five dolUirs, " all the 
ta.\es of both Mercer and VanWert counties." 

The total valuation of the lots in Willshire was returned lor tax- 
ation this year at •S'iS. 14 ; Shanesville, ^:2(i.h7 — taxes, SI (>.4"2 ; Dub- 
lin township, -^fs. (■)(>: St. Mary's, 87().;(). The valuation of the lots 
in St. Mary's was uniformly one dollar, and the tax five mills on 
each lot. The burden of the taxation fell upon Shanesville, by rea- 
son, probably, of a bad system of valuation. 

At the .^aine term, .lolin Manning was appointed Treasurer pro 
teiii., and was required to execute bond in the sum of five, humired 
doll am. 

At the June session of 1S25, Isaiah Dungan, Solomon Carr. and 
Ansel Blossom appeared as Commissioners. A settlement was 
made with John 1'. Hedges, Treasin-er of .Mercer i-onnty, for the 
[)erio(i commencing at the June session, l><2-f,and ending .lune •>. 
l^*-."), and the Auditor was ''directed to issue an order in t'a\or of 
the said .iolm P.. Hedges for two dollais and ninety-one cents, being 
his legal per centage on seventy-two dollars and seventy-five cents, 
received niid paid over })y W. B. Hedges for John 1'. Hedges.'" 

An order was issued to \V. B. lletlges. Auditor, for papi-r. and 
one day s services, S2. The Commissioners drew ?->.'J;') each lor 
their services during the session. 



442 Mercer County — First Term of Court. 



An abstract of the list of taxable property, within the couuty of 
Mercer, and the attached county of Van Wert, for the year 1833, 
returned by A. R. Hunter, Assessor, showed eleven merchants having 
an aggregate cajjital investedln merchandise amounting to $:2,652.- 
75. One of these returned a capital of two dollars and seventy- 
five cents. 



The first term of Mercer County Common Pleas was held at St. 
Mary's, in February, 1825, by Hon. Joseph H, Crane. President 
Judge, and by Associate Judges James Wolcott, Thomas Scott and 
Joseph Greer. Tlie chancery case of Samuel Dungan rx. Edmund 
Gilbert was dii-posed of The second term was held in April, 1827, 
and only one ease was entered upon the docket, and that an admin- 
istration one. Two years subsequent, in April. 1829, the third term 
was held in the county. At this term, Hon. George B. Holt ap- 
peared as President Judge, and Joseph Greer, John Manning, and 
William B. Hedges, as Associates. The disposal of two chancery 
cases cleared the docket. There is not to be found a State case 
upon the calendar until several years after the organization of the 
county — the very light docket exhibiting only business now coming 
before the probate court, and at some terms a chancery case or 
two. 

Anthony Shane, Wm. B. Hedges, Colonel A. R. Hunter, John P. 
Hedges (now a resident of Fort Wayne), David Work. John D. 
Ralston, Joel P. Moore, Abraham Shindeldecker, Wm Frysinger, 
Joseph Hinkle. Joseph Harp, Ruel Roeliuck, and John Rhotz (who 
built the first flouring mill in the township, on the St. Mary's), were 
early residents of Dublin township. Most of the foregoing are now 
dead. Later, from 1835 to 1838, Calvin W. Alexander, Dr. John 
Barks (the first physician), Ptev. Abraham F. Miller, Rev Cornelius 
B. Whitley, Rev. \Vm. Heniy H. Sanft (the three latter each black- 
smiths and preachers, and yet living), Judge Hayes, Judge Greer, 
Moses Collins, John Chivington, and Eli Compton settled in the 
township, and are properly classed among the pioneers. 

John Haneline, John George, Samuel Hunter, Amos Stansberry, 
Benj. Nickels, A. Bonnafield, uiid William Carroll, were pioneers of 
Centre township. 

In Washington township, in 1839, Wm. Sprigg. John Betz, Fnos 
Hillory, John Wickerman, Mr. Adair, James Q. Grimes, were resi- 
dents. 

In Recovery township, in 1833, the following were residents: — 
John Simison, William Jam ?s, John S. McDowell, Peter Studeba- 
ker, John Miller, David Freeman, David Anderson, Wm. Money, 
James Buffbrd, Jeremiah Brockes, Richard Scot, Alexander Scott, 
John S. M'Dowell, John G. Blake, and David Beardslee. 

Justin and Wm. Hamilton, Richard Palmer, Jeremiah Coyle (who 
laid out the town of Mendon), Isaac Coyle, and George Willson, 
were among the earliest citizens of Union township. 



Mercer County — Pioneer Notes. 443 



The first irrist mill built in Mercer county, was erected by David 
Anderson, on the \\ abasli river, in Recovery townsliip, near the old 
fort, in I8;>(t. William McDowell quarried an<l dressed the stone. 

The first settler of Union township was I aiah Duncan, who came 
into it about the year IHIS, and settled near the present town of 
Mendon. Justin Hamilton came about isyo; and in IS'J"^?, Andrew 
C'oyle, and Thomas Parrott. and their families. The ohlest wliite 
person, now livinir. bom in Union, is Andrew ('..son of Tliomas 
rnrrott. About IS'JT, I'eter Coyle and (4eorge Willson became cit- 
izens. In iSol. or IH.'}-..', Judj.je Justin llamilion and Thomas l*ar- 
rott laid out the town of Mendon. Among the pioneers of I'^nion 
townshiji. were also Abel Wrii,dit, James Wrii,dit, K<lward Upton, 
Samuel Shepard. D. F. I'arrott now a resident of (eli'.a, removed 
to the township with his lather. George Parrott. in i*so(). John \'an 
Gundy erected the first mill. 

A writer who })ublislied his communications in the Mercer Coun- 
ty Slandfird, in Ajiril, 1871, states that 'Mon^j befoie the locuticui of 
the Mercer County Reservoir, some hardy adventurers bought and 
settled witliiu the i>rairie, now forming the Reservoir, among whom 
were Thomas and Joseph Coate, Messrs. Mellinger, Large, Hugh 
Miller and others, all on the South side. On the north side were 
Messrs. Sunday, Crockett, Bi'adley, Judge Lii.zee, Uollingsworih, 
Nichols, Gipson, Hull, Kompf, Pratt and the Rev. Asa Stearns, all 
good jn-n — nol)1e specimens of the frontier. 

"In 1S,30, Mitchi'll, an engineer, ran the tirsr lin. around the Res- 
ervoir— Samuel Forrer. now living in Dayton, was tlie Commis^iiin- 
er. [Si-e their rerort to the O.neral Assembly, where they .say the 
bank could be constructed lor *'.)().0()().] Subsequently, in 1837, it 
was run again by Barney and FoiTi-r, com|)atsirig a cireumli rencc of 
18,000 acn.'s. In the same year all the timber outside the prairie 
was let for deadening, which was done by the C;»ntraetors of the 
several Iccatii^ns. When the west bank was let to (fiddings, Step- 
son & Holt8)>eckor, it was let fnim a i)oiiit south of CVlinaa distance 
of 120 rods, at 37 cents per cubic yard, and was to be wharfed with 
good white oak plank, two inches thick ; Henry L. Johnson, late 
sheriff of MtMver countv, sawed the lumber. 

"Justin Hamilton, the member of the legislaturel'rom the county, 
iiitroduc<.'d <■. res(dution in that body which was passed unanimously, 
' That no water should be let into th • Reservoir !>ef -r- the >aMje 
should be cleared of timber and tlie j»arties jiaid^ for tlvir land.' 
This res<<lution was in force win n we cut the bank. 

" There was ihri. an api'Vopriation of $t20,000 to pay ns for our 
lands, but it wa^^ f-ijiian'iered by the ollicers ami bank speculators. 

"When thebai.ks were finished and the water let in, it submerged 
all but an acre for Mr. Sunday, wilh o4 acres oi' wheat; IT) ncres for 
Mrs. Cro(;kett ; the whole of Thomas CoateV; 60 aeies with .«everu] 
thousand rails forjudge Ilo't. of Dayton, who owned a farm two 
miles east of Celiua ; 10 acres for Judge Linzee ; uejirly 40 acres for 



444 Mercer County — The Reservoir Troubles. 



Abraham Pratt, with all the rails thereto belonging, and the whole 
of Melliuger's except a few acres around the house, besides great 
damages to others on the south side too numerous to enumerate 
here. 

" This outrage on the part of the officers of the State was too much 
to be borne by the gritty bloods of Mercer county. Wars have been 
proclaimed on less pretenses. America declared her independence 
and refused to pay a small tax on her tea, which of itself was not 
oppressive, but it was oppressive in principle, and the people would 
not be taxed without the consent of their own Legislatures. Mercer 
County followed the example, and declared that she would not be 
imposed upon by ihe thieving birds of Ohio. 

" On the 3d of May, 1843, a meeting was held in Celina, Samuel 
Ruckman, County Commissioner, acting as president. It was re- 
solved that Benjamin Linzee, Esq., should go to Piqua, the head of 
the Board of Public Works, and lay our grievances and an address 
before them. Spencer and Ransom returned a sneering answer: 
' Help yourselves if you can.' On the 12th of May, the meeting sent 
Linzee back with the declaration that if they did not pay us for our 
lands and let off the water, that we would cut the bank on the 15th. 
The reply came back : '■ The Piqua Guards will be with you and rout 
you on that day.' The muttering thunder around the Reservoir 
was not only loud but deep — every person was excited. On the 
morning of the 15th, by 7 o'clock, more than one hundred people, 
with shovels, spades and wheelbarrows were on the spot, ready for 
work. The place selected was the strongest one on the bank, in 
the old beaver channel. Our object was not to damage the State ; 
and the dirt was wheeled back on the bank on each side. It em- 
ployed the men one day and a half before the cutting was completed : 
it was dug six feet below the level of th water, and a flimsy breast- 
M'ork was made to hold the water back. When the tools were taken 
out and all ready, Samuel Ruckman said : ' Who will start the 
water?' ' I,' said John S. ' I,' said Henry L., and in a moment the 
meandering waters were hurling us down fifty yards below the bank. 
It was six weeks before the water subsided. 

" As soon as this was known at headquarters,'warrants were issued 
for the arrest of all who assisted in the work. Thirty-four of the 
leaders, comprising all the county officers, judges, slieriff, clerks, 
auditor, treasurer, his deputy, recorder and surveyor, merchants and 
farmers were arresied and bound over to the next term of court. A 
foolish idea, for the court assisted in the work. But the grand jury 
refused to find a bill of misdemeanor, andrso the matter rested. It 
cost the State $17,000 to repair the damages. 

" I think it proper to record the names of those who resisted the 
oppressive movements of the State, in cutting the west bank of the 
Mercer County Reservoir: Judge Robert Linzee, J.S.Houston, 
Frank Linzee, clerk of the court; Joseph Cariin, sheriff; Fred. Schro- 
der, auditor; L. D. McMahon, recorder j B.jLinzee,^jdeputy, treasu- 



Mercet' County — Its Pioneers. 445 

rer; 8. Rucknian, ronimissioner ; H. Trenary, B. Mowry, Porter 
Pratt, Ellis Mill.r, M. D. Smith, Allci), a tavt-rn kcopcr. Eli Denni- 
son, Jdliii Siiiulay and all his family, tin- Crockrtt hoys, Hrittoii and 
son, Abm. Millar and Dr. Bcaiicluimp, from Montezuma; Mattiicw 
Erank. (irav, Ellis, Hutrh Milk-r and a hundnd otlurs who came 
through curiosity or somo otlior purpose, with Thomas and Joseith 
Coats." 

The same correspondent thus refers to the late Jud<,a' Robert 

Lin zee: 

" He was from Athens, Ohio, where lie had lield thirty-two com- 
missions from the (Government. When Ohio was a territory, he was 
appointed a marshal by Jefierson. He subsequently served as sher- 
iff, judge, and four terms in the legislature of Ohio. He was over 77 
years of age at his death, and was buried in full communion with 
the Masonic order. Eew men were endowed by nature with a nobler 
principle. A mind decisive, independent, intelligent and honest, 
and with colloquial powers eqnal to the most fluent. It is said by 
those who have seen Gen. Jackson, that his head and countenance 
were similar to that illustrious personage." 

And he also makes the following reference to other pioneers: 

" Andrew Crockett, formerly from Athens, Ohio, had been a mem- 
ber of the General Assembly ;" entered a large tract of land and set- 
tled near Celina, acted several terms as justice of the peace, and died 
at a ripe old age, highly ; respected by all who knew him. He was 
one of those fortunate individuals who was associated through life 
with an excellent companion whose benevolence and kindness of 
heart predominated with every lady-like virtue. 

" But there is no man to whom the friends of Celina is indebted 
for their county seat more than to the late James Watson Riley, who 
was the son of the famous sea captain, James Riley, who .shipwrecked 
on the shores of Africa. Young Riley came with his father to assist 
in sectionizing the counties of Northwestern Ohio and part of Indi- 
ana. He was a fast and accurate surveyor, a ready writer and calcu- 
lator; his latitude and departure columns seldom needed correction; 
his eye as an engineer was singularly adapted to close work. lie was 
the first Clerk of the Court of Mercer county, and early em- 
barked with all his means in the civilization, settling and improving 
Northwest Ohio. 

" There are two respectable gentlemen now residing in Celina, 
who were among the first settlers, that deserve on this occasion hon- 
orable notice — they are Henry L. Johnson and Dr. Miller. Johnson 
was employed to build and put in motion, the lirst steam mill, and 
has made Mercer county his residence ever since, with the exception 
of some three years. IIi> served his second t«'rm as sheriff, 
which ofiice he 'tilled with signal abilitv. Dr. Miller was then a 
young man, and. I believe, the first schoolmijster. and when he had 
completed his Rtu<lieH, he chose the honorable pnd'ession of a phy- 
sician, and has attained in it an enviable proficienoy. 



446 Mercer County — First Court at Celina. 



''The county seat was removed to Celina, and the first Court was 
held in 1840. Wm. L. Helfeustein presided, with Linzee, Hays and 
Parks, associates; Riley, clerk; Alex. Steadman, slierifl"; E. M. 
Phelps, treasurer ; L. D. McMahon, auditor; E. A. McMahon, (sub- 
sequently a Judge of the Fort Wayne, Ti^diana, Circuit, and now a 
resident of Rochester, Minnesota,) recorder; J. S. Houston, county 
surveyor, and Starbuck, State's attorney. 

" Two lawyers, Smith and Welch, and a German doctor by the 
name of Herrchell, were tl.e first of their profession who settled in 
Celina. Joseph Carlin was the first sherifl' elected by the people 
after the establishment of the county seat. He is yet living, and 
hiis retir d to his farm, north of Celina. Trcuary and Mowry, both 
excellent men, now dead, were the first blacksmiths. Johnson, now 
sherift, was the first carpenter. 

" The Mercer County Advocaie, Whig in politics, was the first 
newspaper published in Celina. It was started August 4, 1848, 
by L. G. Smith and J. S. Millard. The Western Siaiulard, Demo- 
cratic in politics, was stiirted the same year by a joint stock compa- 
ny, and has been continued ever since, although a little over a year 
ago it dropped the name of " Western," and substituted " Mercer 
County'' instead, while the Advocate lived but little over a year. 

'■ While t]}is country was yet claimed by the Indians, years be- 
fore the purchase of 1817, some hardy pioneers made Fort Recovery 
their residing place ; some for the purpose of trading, others for an 
easy mode of lite congenial to tlieir disposition. Among these, as 
most prominent, wao Samuel McDowell, Peter Studabaker, Daniel 
Freeman, John Siiaison, and subsequently Stone, Money, Blake, 
Beardslee, etc., all of whom have left numerous and honorable de- 
scendants, prospenng in the various avocations of life. 

"Samuel McDowell enlisted in the service of the United States in 
1791, and was of Gen. Butler's regiment at the disastrous defeat of 
St. Clair. When the retreat was sounded, all that could rushed pell 
mell on the back track in shamelul^confusion. McDowell was among 
those who covered the retreat, and kept the enemy in check. A 
horse came dashing by, which he caught, and seeing a yonth limp- 
ing along, assisted him to mount, by which he soon gained the front, 
and thus saved his life. Many years afterwards, as McDowell was 
traveling, and had registered his name^ in the tavern in which he 
was to tarry for the night, a stranger, who by accident saw it, and 
that he was from Recovery, Ohio, entered into conversation with 
him, and soon found he was the generous soldier who assisted him 
to escape th ■ savage massacre. The surprise was mutual. The stran- 
ger took him to his house and made him a present of a splendid 
suit of clothes, which Mc always wore on the anniversary of that 
day, and the 4th of July. McDowell lived to be over eighty years 
of age, and died near Recovery, a few years ago, highly respected. 

" Studabaker, Simison, Freeman, John G. James, and^McDowell, 
were good hunters and farmers, fine, jovial, generous, hospitable 



Mercer Oovnty — Pioneei' Notes. 44Y 



8])cciraens of n backwoods life, scorning l)ase actions, and holding in 
the highest esteem a life of inihpendence. triitli aixl honor. 

" Es(juire lilake acted many years as a justice (»f the peace with 
fine ability, generous to a lault, and ])enevok'nt in all his associa- 
tions. Dr. Fair, as a physician, was well tin. uglit of.and what would 
have been his |>roHciency, had he but lived, and acted in a larger 
field, cannot now be known. 

"George Aabaugh settled near where Macedon now is. at an ear- 
ly day ; cleared up a farm, raised a large and respectable I'amily, 
many of whom still reside in that neighborhood. He dieil at a very 
advanced age, but a .short time ago. 

"Montezuma was laid out by William Bcauchamp, who acted for 
many years as a physician. Although not educated, he was a good, 
useful citizen, and a very clever man, and did much good in his pro- 
fession. 

*' Abram Miller entered a quarter section of land near the town, 
and alterwards was the first merchant and dealer in furs, and also 
the first postmaster. The first ])erson whose a.xes resounded in the 
forest, were George Fair, Thomas and Joseph Coates, John Kills 
Wyatt, and Black. Ah. Worthington and Hugh Miller were the 
most expert in driving the sprightly buck through the forest. 

" About 35 years ago, five brothers by the name of Frank, settled 
in that neighborhood. Matthew and Dennis were the oldest. They 
were from Germantown, Ohio, and an excellent race of people. 

'' St. Johns is a highly cultivated and beautil'ul place. Licen Sni- 
der for many years kept the tavern there. Stelzer was the proprie- 
tor of the town. P^scpiire Klking, Rinehcart, Brown, and a host of 
others, whom it will be iin])ossible to name, comjiosed this first 
happy community, extending, as it does, with unvariable beaut v far 
west of St. Henry, a village of considerable note and enterprise. — 
Henry Homer was the proprietor. In ls:{G, he laid oft' the town, 
then a wilderness. As when the <jueen be settles, and is followed 
by all the swarm, so when K(»mer h-tt his fatherland, hundreds of 
families nestled around him. Every tract of land was taken up and 
settled upon. Beckman, Brown, and Suwalda are among the hon- 
orable catalogue. Among the Americans was Grant, Franklin, 
Richardson, lluit, Roberts, and Langdon Kennett. Esq. 

"The lirst settlement in the north part of the county was made 
at Shanesville, near what is called Shane's Prairie. In the war of 
iSl'J, several friendly Indians had their lodges there. Among these 
wi re Shane, Godfroy, Crescent, Labidee. IJushville antl others, who 
had Keservations assigned to them, at the sale ot Northwestern 
Ohio. These Indians were excellent men. noble and generous by 
nature, and hospit.able to all classes ot people. Anthony Shau' and 
Louis (:rO(lfroy, especially, had the lofty imj>ress of their nation, and 
they did the I'nited Stati's good service during the war. Louis God- 
froy was living, a few years ago, on his re8ervati<m in Indiana. :ind 
I have not heard of his death. Authony Sliane died some years ago. 



448 Mercer County — Pioneer Notes. 



Before his death, he gave to a little son of Euel Roebuck, a tract of 
good land on the St. Mary's river, because he was the first white 
child born there. The balance of his land he sold to William B. 
Hedges. 

" A man by the name of Madore established the first trading post, 
and had Hedges for his store assistant, who was then a young man. 
In those days, all the goods and provisions consumed at Ft. Wayne, 
Indiana, had to be taken across from Piqua, Ohio. Large quanti- 
ties of flat boats were constructed at St. Mary's, the head of St. 
Mary's river, and during the winter months hundreds of barrels of 
salt, flour, whiskey, meat, and boxes of goods accumulated, to be 
transported down the river at the opening of navigation. This gave 
life and vivacity to every trading post on the river, and many hands 
were employed to carry on the work. 

" Wm. B. Hedges, Jos. Hinkle, Madore, Graves, Grant, Robuck, 
A. R. Hunter, Bevington, YanGundy, and David Work, were the 
first settlers of Shanesville and vicinity. Wm. B. Hedges died but 
a few weeks ago, at quite an advanced age. He was County Com- 
missioner, Surveyor, and for many years Justice of the Peace. Da- 
vid Work was a tanner, and for many years did a heavy and suc- 
cessful business. Hedges, Work, and Robuck were great lovers of 
fun. Fire hunting was a profitabla sport, either for fish or deer. At 
night, the deer would gather in the river to stamp and splash water 
on themselves to keep ofl the mosquitoes and gnats, and when a 
light came along, they would stand gazing at it until the hunter ap- 
proached close enough to shoot them down. Newcomers, of course, 
wanted fresh meat, and these adepts in the art of fire hunting by 
torchlight, would agree to show them for a certain sum, to be paid 
that night in whisky, how it was done. They would generally sup- 
ply the tyros with an old worthless boat or canoe, where they could 
be seated, while their instructors would have a pirogue large enough 
to hold themselves and several deer. All ready — off they would 
start, flambeau in band. They were most always successful, as game 
was plenty. When they wished to return home, they would kind- 
ly tell the newcomers that where they were the river had a large 
bayou and island, and for them to keep down the main stream, while 
they would make a little excursion, and would soon fall in with 
them below. On, on, the newcomers would go, hearing nothing 
of their comrades, and daylight generally found them some twenty 
miles from home, and the next day they had the fun of footing it 
back. This was called " initiating" the new settlers in the art of 
fire hunting. 

" Dr. Puiltoggle, as he was nicknamed, loved to be bell-weather 
on all public days and occasions, and to make the oration on the 4th 
of July. Col. Hedges disliked him, and on more than one occasion 
outwitted him. On a certain 4th of July, he was chosen orator — a 
stand for the speaker was erected, and seats constructed for the ac- 
commodation of the people. Hedges tied a string to a fresh coon 



Mercer County — Early Settlers. 449 



skin, antl c^ave a boy a qnartor to flracf it across the spcakpr'H stancl. 
and arouinl on the scats. The mcctin<^ was largely attended, and 
the Dcclaralion of Indcjiend nc read, wlien the speaker arose with 
all S' It-assuranee to make a l>ig display. Hedges then let loose 32 
hountla, and they instinctively took the trail of the coon skin, anil 
such screams autl ''getting up stairs you never did see!" The meet- 
ing Avas dissolved, and the wrath of the speaker had no bounds. 

" In an early day, Shane's Prairie was Settled by hardy adventur- 
ers, ani' ng whom i.s i hi man Ilanzcr, nearly one hundred years old, 
and yet living. There arc still living, of the first settlers, llinkle, 
Haiizcr, Ilarncr, Webb, and Heath; and among the ladiej, Mrs. 
Hamilton, Mrs. (Ji-ccn, and Mrs. Uevingtnn; and, I believe, some of 
the Coils, who at least deserve an honorable biography. 

"Among those who first entered and settled on land, was J)cn- 
nlston, Sutton, Chivington, Brcw.-^lcr, Greer, Hays, Kobuck, Coil, 
Heath, TuUis, Opdyke, Hitchner, "Woods, and Richard Palmer. The 
old fort constructed by Gen. ^V'ayne, the ruins of which can yet be 
seen in section 24, is on the land owned l>y Palmer. It was called 
Fort Adams. 

"Those who flr.'it settled on the Twelve Mile Creek were, Kiser, 
Ilaiuline, Harner, Hamilton, Coil, Cook, Parrott, Wright, Murlin; 
and where Mendon is, and vicinity, Pcnnabaker, Coils, Smith, Ku- 
perds— a big generation, the old man still living, at ninety years of 
age, and .^ays he can drop a deer as nicely as ever, if they attempt 
to cross his path. Justin Hamilton was a good surveyor, a very in- 
telligent and well-read man. He was twice a Rejireseutative, As- 
sociate Judge of the Court, and filled many minor cflices with abil- 
ity and credit. He lived to be near 70 years of age. The vacancy 
by death of such men is not easily filled. 

" Wm. Hamilton, still living, lias been justice of the peace nearly 
oO years. He is a correct, intelligent man, in whom confidence can 
be placed. The Uptons, Wirts, Pattersons, ilurlins, Shepards, 
Davises and Cook, are all good, reliable, honest, industrious, thriv- 
ing farmers. 

'•Among the first settlers of Twelve Mile, was old man Kiser, a 
great hunter, and a man of extraordinary memory. He loved the 
forest, and if an Indian crossed his path, like Miller and Louis Wet- 
zel, he was a dead shot. John Ilainline was another of the early 
settlers, and was a great genius in guns, clocks, watches, and fine- 
edgetl tools. \Villiam Bonifield was the proprietor of Neptune, and 
kept a hotel there which was called the ' Half-way House.' His 
wife was an e.xccllent wom.an, and well suited for a landlady, and 
her house a home for the traveler. She is still living, Beiij. Niekel 
wa.s also a first settler, and kept a good hotel. His wife was an ex- 
cellent cook, had fine social qualities, and generous to all. 

"There is no man who deserves a higher recommendation, or to 
be pointed out to the youth of this county for an example of perse- 
verance, frugality, lionesly, generosity, and every accomjdibhed vir- 

23 



fiercer County in 1872. 



tue, than Stephen Ilowick, of Center township. In 1828, the Lords 
and hmdholders of England held a meeting, in which Arthur 
Wellsley (Lord Wellington.) was president. The great object of 
that meeting was to send off to America all the surplus youth, they 
paying the expenses ot their transportation. This notice was pub- 
lished throughout the kingdom. Stephen Ilowick. then a youth, 
embraced the opportunity and came to America. The first money 
he earned ($28.00). was near Lancaster, Ohio. He then married a 
first-rate lady of that vic:nity, when he moved to St. Mary's, and 
spent one summer in a brick-yard with Mr. Blue. He then had 
money enough to buy lorty acres of land in Center township, when 
he settled upon it, improved it, was industrious, saving and money- 
making. Now he owns not less than 500 acres ol land, a large 
brick house to live in, and a brick barn and stable walled in by a 
brick fence, and a steam saw-mill." 

Shanes ville was laid out by Anthony Shane, Jun 23, 1820 — be- 
ing the oldest town in the County. 

Fort Recovery was platted in 1836. 



Mercer County has been well governed since its organization 
down to the present time. It is out of debt, and its obligations 
were never at a discount. Few counties in the State, and especially 
those for so long a period sparsely settled, can make a more satis- 
factory financial exhibit. The Court House, a fine structure, was 
built in 1(S67, at a cost, including furniture, of $43,000. 



Mercer County Officers, 1871-72. — rrol)ate Judge, R. G. 
Blake; Recorder, J. G. Perwessel; Auditor, T. G. Touvelle; Clerk, 
J. W. DeFord ; Treasurer, G. W. Rundabaugh ; Prosecuting Attoi*- 
ney. Keepers Alberry ; Prosecuting Attorney elect, W. F. Miller; 
Sheriff, Thornton Spriggs; County Surveyor, Marcus Schuyler. 



The valuations of property, for purposes of taxation, in the early 
history of the county, have been given in preceding pages.| ^ 
The valuation of 1871 is exhibited below : 

Lands ij;2,824,800 00 

Towns and Villiu,^es 215,210 00 

Chattel propel tjC. 1,095,230 00 

Total value fi^4,155,240 00 

The population of the County, at different periods, was as fol- 
lows: 

In 1830 1,100 

In 1840 8,277 

In 1850 7,713 

In IHOO 14,104 

lu 1870 17,254 



Allen County- -[(a Formation. 



451 



Auglaize County, erected in 18-18, took off some of the most pop- 
ulous and wealthy territory of Mercer, which will cxjjlain the ap- 
parent (liininuiioii in j)Opulation between the periods of 18U) and 
] .s6(). 

The population of the several sub divisions of Mercer County, at 
different periods, were officially reported as follows : 



TOWNS AND TOTTNgHIPS. 



Black Creek 

Butler 

(Jenter 

Ncpluue 

Dublin 

Merrer 

Slinne's Crossing. 

Franklin 

Gibson 

Granville 

Fort Henry 

Hopewell 

Jefferson 

Celinu 

Liberty 

Marion 

Cliickiisuw 

Kopcl , 

St. John's 

Recovery , 

Fort Recovery 

Union 

Mendon , 

Washington 



1870 


1S60 


18M 


1087 


913 


490 


1301 


1044 


220 


l;i:»=> 


1153 


491 


'jO 






Linn 


V6hl 


914 


73 






24« 







Sil 


(r>4 


357 


1100 


94(5 


4S5 


Vl:-A 


lu3.j 


504 


\T^^i 




•■••.• 


894 


'638 


290 


ir,.57 


1003 


493 


bo'J 


307 


223 


771) 


508 


ll^3 


1870 


1848 


142« 


386 







305 






105 






1118 


8j6 


59o 


8!) 






1470 


1228 


746 


164 







1148 


958 


456 



Celina, the seat of iustice of Mercer county, is a pleasantly-loca- 
ted town, haviiii^ good church and educational establishments, and a 
grist mill constantly j)ropelling, Vjy steam, when wat^-r power fails, 
four run of stone, and a saw-mill connected; also, one water-mill, 
operating three run of stone, and a saw-mill connected with it; two 
steam planing-mills ; two manufactories of cabinet ware ; one of 
shingles; one of staves .ind headings: one llax-mill, and one brew- 
ery. A well-managed and responsible private bank is in operation, 
and the several lines of dry goods, hardware, drugs, groceries, etc , 
are fully represented. 



ALLEN COUNTY. 

This County was formeil April 1, 1820, from Indian territory, and 
named in honor of a Colonel of that name in the war of l«si2. It 
was temporarily attached to Mercer for judicial purjjoses, and 
hence it is deemed proper that its pioneer history l'.)llo\r that 
County. 



452 Allen County — Pioneer Notes. 



The -writer is chiefly indebted, for the narration following this, to 
an address made by T, E, Cunningham, Esq., before the Pioneer 
Association, at Lima, September 22, 1871 : 

" Fifty years ago, the territory which now constitutes the County 
of Allen, was an almost unbroken wilderness; I say almost, for on 
the banks of the Auglaize river, in the neighborhood of where once 
stood the village of Hartford, a settlement was commenced by the 
whites, about the year 1817. To the young, these fifty years appear 
a long time ; but there are men and women about me, who can look 
back over a period longer than that, and realize how swiftly these 
years have Hown, freighted as they Avere with sorrows and hopes, 
keen disappointments, and truest joys. Births and deaths alternated 
with the days, and memory is crowded with shadowy forms who 
lived and died in the long ago ! 

" Allen county is a portion of that division of the State, common- 
ly known as Northwestern Ohio. This section was the last opened 
for settlement by the whites. The Shawanee Indian Reservation 
embraced a large part of the county, and the migration of the Indi- 
ans did not occur until the month of August, 1832, although they 
ceded their lauds to the General Government some time before — 
The whites, however, had begun to come in before the cession took 
place, and the red man and the white for years occupied the coun- 
try together, and illustrated the savage and civilized modes of life. 

" A family named Russell, were the first whites who settled with- 
in the bounds of the county. On the Auglaize, in 1817, they opened 
the first farm, and there the first white child was born. That child, 
who afterward became the wife of Charles C. Marshall, of Delphos, 
was familiarly called by the neighbors " the Daughter of Allen 
Coimty." She died during the present summer, in the fifty-fourth 
year of her age. 

" Samuel McCIure, now living at the age of seventy-eight years, 
settled on Hog Creek, five miles northeast of where Lima now 
stands, in the month of November, 182,5 — forty-six years ago. He 
has remained on the farm he then built a cabin upon, ever since. — 
The nearest white neighbors he knew of, were two families named 
Leeper and Kidd, living one mile below where Roundhead now 
is, about twenty miles to the nearest known neighbor. On that farm, 
in the year 1826, was born Moses McCliire, the first white child 
born on the waters of Hog Creek. Mr. McClure's first neighbor 
was Joseph Ward, a brother of Gen. John Ward. He helped cut 
the road when McClure came, and afterwards brought his family, 
and put them into McClure's cabin, while he built one for himself 
on the tract where he afterwards erected what was known as 
Ward's Mill. The next family was that of Joseph Walton ; they 
came in March, 182G. 

"Shawaneetown, an Indian village, was situated eight miles be- 
low the McClure settlement, at tlie mouth of Hog Crtek. A por- 



Allen County — Pioneer Notes. 453 



lion of the village was on the old Ezekiel Hoover farm, and a por 
tion on tho Brecse farm. Mr. ilcClurc and liis little neighborhood 
Boon became acquainted, and upon trood terms, with their red neigh- 
bors. He says llai-aitch-lali, the war chiel', had he bein civilised, 
would have been a man of mark in any community. C^uilna was the 
great business man of the tribe here. 

"Soon after the McClure settlement was commenced, they heard, 
from the Indians at Shawaneetown, that the United States Govern- 
ment had erected a mill at Wapaukonneta. The settlers had no 
road to the mill, but C^uilna assisted them to open one. He survey- 
ed,the line ot their road, without compass, designating it V;y his 
own knowledge of the diOerent points, and the Indian method of 
reaching them. 

'^ There are many of the children of the early settlers to whom 
the name of C^uilna is a household word. To his business qualities, 
were added great kindness of heart, and a thorough regard for the 
white people. No sacrifice of his personal ease was too much, it, 
by any etibrt, he could benefit his new neighbors. I think this com- 
munity have been ungrateful. Some enduring memorial of him 
should long ago have^bcen made. How much better, and more ap- 
propriate, it would have been to have given his name to the new 
township recently erected in our county, out of territory over which 
his tired feet have so often trodden, in the bestowal of kindness and 
benefactions upon the white strangers, who had come to displace 
his tribe, and elfacc the hillocks which marked the places where his 
forefathers slept. Why cannot we have Ottawa changed to Quilua 
yet ? 

" In the month of June, 182G, Morgan Lippencott, Joseph Wood, 
and Benjamin Dolph, while out hunting, found the McClure settle- 
ment. 'J'o his great surprise, Mr. McClure learned that he had been 
for months living within a few miles ot another white settlement, 
located on Sugar Creek. He learned froni the hunters there were 
tive families, Christopher Wood, ^lorgan Lippencott, Samuel Ja- 
cobs, Joseph Wood, and Samuel Purdy. It is his belief that Chris- 
topher Wood 8ettle(l on Sugar Creek as early as lb'^4, on what is 
known as the old Aliller farm, 

" In the spring of 1S;U, John Ividenour, now living at the age of 
eighty-nine years, with his family; Jacob Kidenour, then a young 
married man, an<l David Kidenour, bachelor, removed from Perry 
county, and settled one mile south of Lima, on the lands the fami- 
lies of that name have occupied ever since, 

'• The State of Ohio conveyed to the people of Allen county a 
quarter section of land, upon which to erect a county town. The 
title was vested in the Commissioners of the county, in trust for the 
purpose expressed. It was not a gift, however, as many suppose. 
Two hundreil dollars was jiaid for it out of the County Treasury, 
while Thos. K. Jacobs was Treasurer." 



454 Allen County — Lima. 



The following preamble and joint resolution were adopted by the 
General Assembly of Ohio, on the twenty-fourth day of January;, 
1832 : 

Whereas, In conformity with a l-Jesolution of the General As- 
sembly of the State of Ohio, passed February 12, 1829, a site was 
selected for the seat of justice for the County of Allen, and the sec- 
tion so selected, to wit: Section 31, Township 3, south of Range 7 
east, was reserved, except the west half of the northeast quarter 
thereof, which had previously been sold; and. 

Whereas, In pursuance of an act passed the third day of March, 
1831, entitled "An Act for establishing the seat of justice for Allen 
County, and for other purposes,' a town director Avas appointed by 
the Commissioners of said County, who proceeded, under the direc- 
tions of said Commissioners, to lay out, by metes and bounds, one 
hundred and sixty acres within said section, and including the site 
selected as aforesaid, returns whereof have been made to the Reg* 
ister's office, in Piqua, and to the Governor of this ^State ; and on 
which tract so surveyed and returned, the Commissioners of the 
said county have caused a town to be laid out in conformity to the 
provisions of the before-recited act ; and, as it is now essential to 
the prosperity of the said town, and of the county of Allen, tiiat 
the remainder of said Section be brought into market, now, there- 
fore. 

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the 
Register of the Land Office for the Piqua District, be, and he is 
hereby required, after giving at least six weeks previous notice 
thereof, published in the Piqua Oazetle, Democratic Enqv.irer, Troy 
Times, Bellefontaino Gazette, to proceed to offt^r at public sale, to 
the highest bidder, at his office in the town of Piqua, all of said sec- 
tion not already disposed of, and in such tracts not exceeding eighty 
acres, as he shall deem most expedient; provided, that no part there- 
of shall be sold at a less price than one dollar and twenty-five cents 
per acre. 



"In the summer of 1831, the town was surveyod'Jby A\'. L. Hen- 
derson, of Findlay, — the same gentleman who was recently promi- 
nent in tlie survey and location of the Frem,<)nt and Indiana Rail- 
road. Patrick G. Goode, at that time a distinguished citi?,en of the 
State, who after\var<ls became a member of Congress, President 
Judge of the Judicial Circuit, and a methodist minister, had the 
honor of naming it. He borrowed the name from the Capital of 
|?*eru, South Aniei'ica. tvnd to his last day woull not forgive the pub- 
lic for their resolute aljandonment of the Spanish pronunciation of 
the name. It was pronounced Lcma, where he took the na,me from, 
but our people insiste^i upon the long i, and Lana it has been to this 
4a)', and wjU continue, {o bo, \yhe^ the wails, qI" s, city shf^ll &\a.jo,d,_ 



Alien County — Lima. 455 



upon its foundations, and whrn the name of the good man who stood 
its sponsor shall have heen fortjotten. 

"In the month of August, 1.S31, a public sale of lots took place, 
and during the following fall ami winter, came John P. Mitchell, 
Absolom lirown, John F. Cule, Dr. William Cunningham, Abraham 
Bowers, John Brewster, David Tracy, John Mark, and John Ba- 
shore, with their families, except Brew&ter, who was a bachelor. — 
John F. Cole, wlio is now almost alone amongst the new genera- 
tion of men who havf> come around him, settled a mile below town, 
on a portion of what is now the Faurot farm. Enos Terry, a broth- 
er-in-law of Mr. Cole, settled upon an adjoining tract, still nearer 
town. 

"The children of these men and women, who made this venture 
in the wilderness, — some of them in the dead of winter, — can form 
no idea of the toil encUired, the anxiety suffered, and the struggles 
which accompanied the frontier lire of their lathers and mothers. 
Nor can we, at this day, with our crowding upon each other in the 
race of life, contemplate, without wonder, the sympatliy they felt 
for each other, and the constant mutual aid extended. 1 have heard 
my own mother tell how John B. Mitchell once walked nine miles 
to a horse mill, and brought home on his back a bushel of corn meal, 
and divided it amongst half a dozen families. This proves the good- 
ni'ss of human nature; and I believe the sons and daughters of 
these persons would do the like if they were surrounded with the 
same circumstances. I have heard John F. Cole describe his travels 
through the woods with his ox team, making about five or six miles 
a day, and at night turning out his oxen to find their own supper, 
wliile he, covered with mud, and frequently with no dry thread of 
clothing, crept into his wagon and slept the night away. They had 
no railroads then, you know; I can recollect back to the time when 
the country about Urbana was called 'the settlement,' whence sup- 
pli'S were drawn ; and it required several strong yoke of oxen, and 
many days of travel, to make the trip to and from 'the settlement.' 

"In the month of August, \><'>12, the Shaw.inees took up their line 
of march for the far west; away so far, it was thought, that many 
generations would come and go before they would again be dis- 
turbed. But one generation had not passed. Ijeforc the a<lvancing 
tide of civilization swept against iind over them, till, tired of the 
struggle, the majority of what remains of this once powerful and 
warlike tribe have quietly yielded to the surrounding influences, and 
are h^arn n; and practicing the arts of civilized life. 

" Dr. William McIIcnry came to Lima in the spring of 1831.— 
There were then living in the village John F. Mitchell, Col. Jafucs 
Cunningham, Dr. William Cunningham, Gen. John Ward. Dr. Sam- 
uel Black, Daniel [). Tompkins, Charles Baker, James Anderson 
David Tracy, Hudson \Valt, Miles Cowan, Crane Valentine, John 
Bashore. John Mark, Alraham Aldridge. Alexander lieatty. Wm. 
Scott, Thurston Muster, pavid lieesc, Daniel Musscr, t5r., Martin 



456 Allen County — Pioneer Notes. 



Musser, Daniel Musser, Jr., Elisha Jolly, Abraham S. Nicholas, Rev. 
George Shelden, Elder William Chaffe, John Jackson, Hamilton Da- 
vison, Amos Clutter, Robert Terry, F. II. Binkley, and Abraham 
Bowers. Rev. John Alexander, and Eev. James Fmley were min- 
isters of the M. E. Church, upon the circuit at that time. Mr. Shel- 
don preached to the presbyterians, and Elder Chaflee to the Bap- 
tists. Within Dr. McHenry's recollection of the persons named, who 
were, with one or two exceptions, heads of families then, there re- 
main in this vicinity but Mrs. Bowers, Daniel Musser, Jr., Mrs. Mus- 
ser (then Mrs. Mitchell), Hudson Watt, and Mrs. Watt, Elisha Jolly 
and Mrs. Jolly, Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Patrick (then Mrs. Tracy), and 
Mrs. Bashore. John F. Cole and Mrs. Cole are still living, now 
and for many years residents of the town ; but at that time they 
were upon their farm below town. 

"Tompkins is in Oregon; Baker is in Marion; Watt, Jolly, and 
McHenry remain in Lima; Valentine is in Michigan. The wherea- 
bouts, if alive, of Mosier, Reese, Nicholas, Cowan, and Clutter, is 
unknown. The remainder of the names on the list 'will be found met 
i)i marble, ' in memoriam.^ 

" The lirst white citizen of Lima, was Absalom Brown, whose 
daughter, Marion Mitchell Brown, named after the present Mrs. 
Musser, was the first white child born in the town. The second was 
Katharine Bashore, now Mrs. John P, Adams. The first marriage 
in the town was that of James Saxon and Miss Jones, a sister-in- 
law of John Mark. They were married by the Rev. Mr. Pryor, a 
missionary of the M. E. Church. 

" As late as the fall of 1834, Daniel Musser killed two deer on the 
present plat of Lima — one about where King's warehouse stands, 
and the other about where the west Union School house is. 

" I am indebted to Mr. John Cunningham lor the result of the 
census of Lima, actual count, completed yesterday, September 21, 
1871. The total number of families is 1013; the number of souls, 
4,979, an increase of between three and four hundred since the cen- 
sus was taken in 1870. 

" The county was permanently organized in June, 1831. James 
Daniels, John G. Wood, and Samuel Stewart, were the first Com- 
missioners ; then, in December of the same year, Morgan Lippen- 
cott, and John P. Mitchell succeeded Wood and Stewart. In 1833, 
Griffith John succeeded Lippencott. In 1835, James N. Coleman, 
and .James K. Anderson came in. In 1834, Henry B. Thorn, John 
Brand, and M. Leatlierman. In 1838, John Shooler ; 1839, -John M. 
Wilson; 1841. Shadrack Montgomery, and Charles II. Williams; 
1842, C. C. Marshall; 1813, MaUhev/ Dobbins; 1844, IsMcholasZan- 
glein; 184.5, Jacob B. llaller; 184(5, Samuel Walker; 1849, Samuel 
Rockhill, William Akerman, and Burgess Dickey. This Avas a re- 
organization of the Board of Commissioners, after the erection of 
the new county of Auglaize, most of which had been taken from 
the territory of Allen. In 1853, Christian Steman came in. In 1 854, 



Allen Covnty — Pioneer Notes. 457 



Moses Patterson ; 1855, Horace Bixby ; 1S5G. Joseph GriflSth ; 1857, 
Cadwallatler Jacobs; 1858, Frocnian Ikll; \^y.), A. E. Iladscll ; 
18G3, Samuel Icu; 18G4, Jolinzy Keith ; LsOo, G. W. GobU- ; 1hG9, 
.James McBeth; 1>>7U. JJernard Esche, the last tlirce now constituL- 
inp the IJourd of Commissioners of the County." 

The several Auditors of the county, from Ib.'Jl to ls70, inclusive, 
were Wm. G. Woods, from 18iU to 1833; Samuel IMack, from 1833 
to 1838 ; II. D. V. Williams, from 183S to 1844 ; John W. Thomas, 
from 1844 to 184G; J. II. Ilichardson, from 1846 to 1850; David 
Dalzell, from 1850 to 1-54; Wm. Dowliiiir, from 1854 to 185G ; B. 
Matheanv, from 1S5G to 1858 ; G. W. Overmver, from 1858 to 18G2; 
John P. Ilaller, from 18G2 to 1866; AVm. Dowlincr, from 18G6 to 
1870 ; S. ,J. iirand, from 1870 to the present year, 1872. 

The several Treasurers were Adam White, Dr. Wm. Cunningham, 
Charles Baker, James Cunningham, Tiiomas K. Jacobs, Alexander 
Beatty, William Armstrong, G. W. Fickel, Shelby Taylor, Miles 
Vance, Emanuel Pisher, W. R. Partello, and F. .1. Lye. 

The Recorders were Nathan Daniels, John Ward, John Alexan- 
der, John W. Thomas,' E. S. Linn, John B. Walmsley, John G. Ri- 
denour, Hugh Dobbins, J. B. Ilaller, and A. R Krebs. 

"The tirst Court of Common Pleas for Allen County, was held in 
a log cabin, the residence of James Daniels, near the crossing of 
Hog Creek, at the east end of Market street, in ^lay, 1833. Hon. 
George B. Ilolt, of Dayton, was the President Judge, and Christo- 
pher Wood, James Crozier, and William Watt were Associates. Jno. 
Ward was clerk, and Henry Lippencott, Sheriff, Patrick G. Goode, 
of Montgomery County, was special prosecuting attorney, appoint- 
ed by the Court. 

''judge Holt was, in 1838, succeeded by Judge W. L. Ilelfenstein; 
he, in turn, in 1839, by Emery D. Potter. Judge Potter went to 
Congress in 1842, and was succeeded on the bench by Myron II. 
Tilden ; and he was succeeded, in lb45, by Patrick G. Goode, who 
remained upon the bench until he was supm-eded, under the new 
Constitution, in February, 1850, by Benjamin F. Metcalf. In 1854, 
Judge Metcalf was succeeded by William Lawrence, of Logan, but 
in l85'J, lie again returned to the bench, in a new-formed district, 
and remained in ottice until his death, which occurred in 18G5. — 
Among the very many able men who have flourished in this section 
of Ohio, it is safe to say Judge Metcalf had no superior in intellect- 
ual finalities. He was succeeded hy 0. W. Rose, of Van W\^rt, who 
remained upon the bench but a few months, when James Macken- 
zie, our townsman, was eketed in tlu" fall of 1865. * * 

"■ Sulfer me here to digre.«s from my narrative of the judiciary, to 
pay a jiassing tribute to the memory, of one who came into our 
midst about a ([uarter of a centurv agu. He was known to almost 
all of you. I allu<le !<> Malhias it. Nichols. To a Itrilliant imagi- 
nation was united untiring industry, and in his early manhood lie 
gave as much promis3 of distinction us any one who evir came 



458 Allen County — Its Honored Dead^ Etc. 



among us. He was a brilliant and successful lawyer, and went to 
Congress at the age of twenty-seven. He served six years, in a most 
exciting epoch, but he survived his Congressional career only about 
three years. 

"The Associate eJustices of our Oid court, were, in addition to the 
ones already named, Charles Levering, Joseph Hoover, John Jame- 
son, John Elliot, George B. Shriner, Charles H. Adgate, and John 
P. Fay. 

"The Clerks of the Court were John Ward, John Alexander, 
Richard Metheany, Joseph H. Richardson. James Cunningham, 
Shelby Taylor, John H. Meily, 0. E. Griffith, and Robert Mehaffey, 
the present incumbent. 

"The Sheriffs were Henry" Lippencott, John Keller, Alexander 
Beatty, Charles H. Williams, Hiram Stott, Matthias Ridenour, Wil- 
liam Tingle, Samuel Buckmaster, Samuel Collins, Isaac Bailey, and 
J. A. Colbath. 

"The Prosecuting Attorneys were, Loren Kennedy. W. S. Rose, 
W. L. Ross, George W. Andrews, Lester Bliss, M. H. Nichols, C. N. 
Laraison, J. N, Gutridge, James Mackenzie, Isaiah Pillars,' and Jno. 
F. Brotherton. 

"The Probate Court, erected by the Constitution of 1851, has 
been presided over by W. S. Rose, Michael Leatliermau, Thomas M. 
Robb, Charles M. Hughes, and L. M. Meily. 

" Under the new Constitution, Allen County became entitled to a 
separate representative in the General Assembly. Lester Bliss was 
the first, and he was followed by Charles Crites, Charles Post, Chas. 
C. Marshall, Thomas K. Jacobs, John Monroe, R. E. Jones, and 
William Armstrong. Michael Leatherman, and Gen. Blackburn 
represented districts under the old Constitution. Col. James Cun- 
ningham and Charles C. Marshall each served one term in the 
Senate. 

" The amount of the grand duplicate of 1833, was $93,611. The 
amount of the grand duplicate for 1871, is 19,583,830. 

"In addition to Lima, thrifty towns have sprung up in various 
parts of the county. Section Ten (now Delphos) promised at one 
time to be the commercial centre of the counties of Allen, Putnam, 
and Van Wert. Spencerville, once known as Spencer, then Arcadia, 
Lafayette, Westminster, BluflFton (once known as Shannon), Allen- 
town, Elida, Gomer, West Newton, Rockport, Maysville, Beaver 
Dam, and Cairo. Hartford and Amherst, like the cities of the 
plain, are known only in history. 

"In the winter of 1834-35, the United States Land Office was 
removed from Wapaukonnetta to Lima, and with it came as receiver 
Gen. William Blackburn. I have seen a great many men of fine 
presence, but I do not recollect of ever having met a liner specimen 
of physical power and manly beauty than Blackburn was when I 
first ia'.v him. He wus then iu \\\3 full flush of middle life ; wi\s 



Allen CounUf—PuhUc Officers in 1872. 450 



considerably more than six feet in height, and weighed over three 
hundred pounds. He was a military enthusiast, and the militia 
musters of those days gave his enthusiasm full vent. He was, I be- 
lieve, the tirst Major General commanding the Tith Division Ohio 
Militia. Gen. John Ward was a l^rigadicr commanding one of his 
brigades. At Ward's death, he was succt'eded hy Gm. William Arm- 
strong, who remained in command until the whole militia system 
became ohsok-te. In the early days of this county, general muster 
day was second only to the 4th of July, in the calendar df great 
days. After the * troops' were dismissed, it was the 'common law' 
that all grievances and personal controversies arising during the 
year, and which had been postponed to general muster, were to be 
settled. Rings would be formed, the combatants step])ed in, and the 
result was generally that both parties were terribly whipped. 

'' Looking back over half a century, behold what has been accom- 
plished! The immense forests our lathers and motjiers found, have 
melted away, and now in their stead are ripening fields of corn. The 
cabins they built are replaced with comfortable farm mansions. 
The corduroy roads, over which they plodded their way back to the 
older settlements, have bem replaced by railroads; and the iron 
horse, in harness, i)ulls annually to the great markets a surplus of 
products, greater in value, by far, than the grand duplicate of lH.32. 
We have much, very much, for which to thank our Heavenly Fa- 
ther; we have much, very much, to be proud of in our history; but 
the proudest of all, we should be, of our brave ancestry, who, amidst 
poverty, and sickness, and privations, hiid broad and deep the foun- 
dation of our present prosperity.'' 



The following is a list of the oHicers of Allen county, in 1872 : 
Probate Judge, L. M. Meily; Prosecuting Attorney, E. A. Ballard; 
County Clerk, Robert ^leliaffey ; Sherilf, James A. Colbath: Audi- 
tor, S. J. Brand; Treasurer, F. J. Lye, Jr.; Recorder, A. R. Krebs ; 
Commissioners, James McBeth, Bernard Esch, and Wm, Akerman ; 
Coroner, G. Feiss; Surveyor, 1). D. Nicholas. 



As Allen en. is justly entitled to the claim of having the best jail 
building in Northwestern Ohio, if not in the State, and regarded as 
a model structure for the purposes of a jail, a few words of descrip- 
tion may not be out of place. The Fourth Annual Rejiort of tlio 
Board of State Charities (1871), makes tlie following reference 
to it: 

*' The building, embracing sherifT's residence and office, in con- 
nection with the prison, is oonstruoted after the general idea sug- 
gestf-d by the Board of State Charities, in its report published lor 
18G8. The Secretary is greitlv indebted to T. J. Tolan, Esq., of 
Delphos, Oliif), who very kindfy explained the plan, and who lias, 
since then, furnished a com|)leLe copy of the specific;\tiuus, etc." 



460 



Allen County — Population. 



From the comprehensive description in the letter of Mr. Tolan, 
above referred to, the following is extracted : 

" I have given the principle of jail construction much attention, 
and l)y inspecting some of the best, as well as some of the worst, I 
had the material before me from which to profit. The great and 
leading points in the construction of a jail, are: drainage, light, 
ventilation, safety, cleanliness, and plenty of water, — all of which I 
have endeavored to combine in my plan." 

All the essential points enumerated above, the Secretary main- 
tains, are embodied in the Allen county jail, — of which Mr. Tolan 
was the architect and superintendent. 



The progress in population of Allen County can only be approximately as- 
certained by the following table of the census returns, as the act erecting Au- 
glaize County changed its boundaries : 

In 1830 578 

In 1840 9,079 

In 1850 12,109 

In 1860 19,185 

In 1870 23,623 



The following table embraces the population of the several towns and town- 
ships for three decennial periods, excepting Delphos, which, as the enumera- 
tion made at different years, was included, sometimes in Allen, and at times in 
Van Wert county, is given separately : 



*In 1857, Ottawa from Bath, German, Perry, and Siiawanee. 
fin 1850, the returns of Lima were included in Bath township. 



TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS. 


1870 


1860 


1850 


Amanda 


1376 
1096 
125^ 
1462 
90 

533 
1801 

337 
'2930 
1730 
4662 
4500 
1835 
2139 

481) 

n69 

1153 
1016 


1178 
1169 
1315 
1359 

1632 

2106 
1514 
2383 
2354 
1289 
1803 

"9ilO 
981 

"932 


607 


Au<''lpize 


1344 


Bath* 


1508 


G erman* 


1008 


Allen town 




Elida 




Jackson 


1175 


Lafayette 




Marion 


101(» 


Monroe 


924 


Ottawa* 




Limaf 

Perry* 


933 


Rich land 


989 


Bluffion , 




Shawan ce* 


716 


Spencer 


355 


Spencervilie 




Sugar Creek 


756 



AUe7i Co. — Delphos, Lima, Early Attorneys^ Etc. 401 



The popubilinn of Delphos, in 1S(M), was incliidcd in the returns of 

Van Wert County, and then amounted to 374 

In 1800 (also eml)raecd in Van Wert returns) 4'25 

In 1.^70 (Van Wert county section of Helphos) 040 

In 1870 (Allen " " " ) 1,027 

i.cr.T 



Lima, the county seat, it will he observed by the fore;»oin^ figures, 
has made fair progress in growth : and its advance in wealth has 
been proportionally greater than its progress in po])ulation. Tiie 
city has the advantage of three iinj)ortant railway outlets — the Pitts- 
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago, the Dayton and Miciiigan, and the 
Louisville and Lake Erie. 

Among the early Attorneys who practiced at the Lima bar, not 
hitherto mentioned, were Judge Crane, Benjamin Stanton, Jacob S. 
Conkiin, Andrew Coffinberry, M. B. ("Bishop") Corwin, John A. 
Corwin, Horace Sessions, John Walkuji, Mr. Poland, Edson Goit, 
and John II. Morrison. The resident Attorneys were, Loren Ken- 
nedy, II. D. V. Williams, Ahelard Guthrie, Lester Bliss, William S. 
Rose, W. T. Curtis, H. Diivid.^on, and M. B. Newman. 

The old physicians, Dr. McIIenry and Dr. Harper, are referred to 
in the address of Mr. Cuuningham. 

Charles Baker, merchant, removed to Lima in 1832, and erected 
the first frame building in the town. 

Lima contains Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist. German 
Reformed, Catholic, Lutheran, Disciple, and Congregational church- 
es ; two newspapers, — the Allen County Democrat. 1). S. Fisher, edi- 
tor, and the Allen County Gazette. C. Parmenter, editor; three 
banks, — the First National, Farmers' Savings and Lima Deposit; 
four hotels ; ten dry goods, fourteen grocery, three clothing, two 
merchant tailor, four drug, two hardware, one book and stationery, 
one fruit and confectionery, three jewelry, and four boot and shoe 
stores; two foundries; two furniture manufactories: one hub and 
spoke do; one board paper mill ; one establishment manufacturing 
agricultural machinery ; two tanneries ; one llax, straw, and sack- 
ing manufactory ; two wood stirrup do ; one handle do ; one wood- 
en moulding do ; one stave do ; six wagon and buggy do ; two steam 
gristmills; one steam saw mill; one eash and door factory; two 
brick kilns; three grain warehouses; three lumber yards, and four 
livery and two sale stables. 

In addition to the extensive manufactories above enumerated, the 
P., F. W. and C, and the D. and M. railway companies have exten- 
sive shops at Lima. 

The city is lighted with i;as. Tiie two large public school edifices, 
and the satisfactory school management, are objects of general pride 
among the citizens of the place. 



462 Allen County — DelpJios. 



Delphos is the second town in rank, as regards population and 
wealth ill Allen county. It already possesses the advantages of 
cheap canal transport, and of the facilities afforded by the Pitts- 
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, with a good prospect of 
securing, within a few months, competing railway lines. 

The town, different portions of which were originally known as 
Section Ten, Howard, and East and West Breidick — East Breidick 
being first platted — was laid out directly after the opening of the 
Miami and Erie Canal, in 1815. Subsequently, and as a result of 
the budget of territorial compromises following the erection of Au- 
ghiize county, the eastern side of the canal came within the limits 
of Allen county, the western side remaining with Van AVert. The 
town, however, at this time, is under a common municipal govern- 
ment, composed of the following named officers: Mayor, C. 0. Mar- 
shall; Recorder, S. D. Chambers; Marsha], S. Marshall; Treasurer, 
Max Woerner : Council, A. Shack, H. Bixbe, H. Lindeman, E. Fink, 
H. Weible, J. W. Feely, S. F. Himmelright, and C. H. Whittier. 

When it is considered that the town was located in the midst of a 
dense and wild forest, and that the communication, east and west, 
was over roads upon which the timber had scarcely been cut out, and 
imperfectly ditched, its growth, from 1845 to 1854, may be consid- 
ered remarkable. Difficult and expensive as were the road and high- 
way means of transportation, the town liad, until 1854, secured a 
trade reaching a distance of about twenty miles, northeast, east and 
southeast, and reaching a yet longer distance westward, crossing the 
State line into Indiana. The only rival encountered by Delphos, in 
the latter direction, was Fort Wayne. True, population was sparse, 
and the surplus farm productions light; but in the aggregate it was 
of vast importance to the new town, and assisted materially in its 
growth. Farmers' wagons returned with freights belonging princi- 
pally to merchants established in less metropolitan towns. The 
event which occurred to arrest its growth, was the opening, in 1854, 
of the Ohio and Indiana Railroad, from Crestline to Fort Wayne. 
This secured markets to Lima and other towns on the east, and to 
Middlepoint, Van Wert, Convoy, and several new stations, on the 
west, and left Delphos to rely, during several years, for its whole bu- 
siness, upon a restricted neighborhood, so slow in its agricultural 
development, that it afforded only a limited trade. It is alleged, 
also, that some of the proprietors of the town failed to extend en- 
couragement to various enterprises which would have enabled it to 
sooner recover from its business paralysis. This charge, however, 
was never applied to Messrs. Bredeick, Wrocklage, and their associ- 
ates, who steadfastly pursued a liberal policy. It is only within a 
few years, and since encouragement to manufacturing, etc., was 
afforded, that regeneration, and a healthy business activity, have 
manifested themselves. All the citizens of the town have now a 
well-grounded faith in its future. The most prominent and suc- 
cessful merchants, bankers, artizans, and others, now residents, and 



AUe/i County— 'Ftie Old Forests, Etc. 463 



controlling, in large degree, its destiny, commenced their business 
life in Di-lphoe, when it and theniselvt-s were struggling for exis- 
tence. That their enterprise and foresight have bien wisely directed, 
and well rewarded, ample evidence exists in the figures reported by 
the census-takers, and in the general thrift now everywhere mani- 
fest. 

The great forests, once so hated, because they formed a stumbling 
block in the tedious struggles to reduce the soil to a condition for 
tillage, have been converted into a source of wealth. Within a ra- 
dius of tive niiks of Dtlphcs, thirty-live saw mills are now con- 
stantly employed in the manufacture of lumber, and a value, nearly 
equaling the product of tin'so mills, is annually exported in the form 
of timber. Excepting in the manufacture of maple sugar, and for 
local building and fencing purposes, no use, until receut years, had 
been made of timber, and its destruction from the face of the earth 
was the especial object of the pioneer farmers, and in this at that 
time supposed good work, they had the sympathies of all others who 
were interested in the development of the country. The gathering 
of the ginseng crop once afforded employment to the families of the 
early settlers, but the supply was scanty, and it soon became ex- 
hausted. Some eighteen years ago, when the business of the town 
was suffering from stagnation, Dr. J. W. Hunt, an enterprising drug- 
gist, and now a citizen of Delphos, bethought himself that he might 
aid the pioneers of the wilderness, and add to his own trade, by of- 
fering to purchase the bark from the slippery elm trees, which were 
abundant in all the adjacent swamps. For this new article of com- 
merce, he offered remunerative prices, and the supply soon appeared 
in quantities reaching hundreds of cords of cured bark; and he has 
since controlled the trade in Northwestern Ohio and adjacent re- 
gions. The resources found in the lumber and timber, ana in this 
bark trade, trifling as the latter may appear, have contributed, and 
are yet contributing, almost as much to the prosperity of the town 
and country, a3 the average of the cultivated acres, including the 
products of the orchard. 

The general resources of the town, added to those already men- 
tioned, are here stated : 

One newspaper and job office, from which is issued the Delphos 
Herald. D. II. Tolan, editor : four churches, — Presbyterian, Catho- 
lic, Methodist, and Lutheran. A largely attended public school — a 
very flourishing private school, under the management, so far as fe- 
male pupils are involved, of the sisters of the Catholic Church, ami 
as regards male pupils, under a compromise arrangement between 
the Board of Education and the Catholic interests, a Normal school, 
in prosperous condition. The Catholic and public school buildings 
are constructed after the best models, and no necessary expense was 
withheld to render them adapted to the purposes to which they were 
devoted. The Normal school is held in one of the public halls. 

In manufactures may be mentioned the Deli)hos Union Stave 



464 Allen County — Delphos in 1872. 



Company; the Ohio Wheel Company; the Delphos Foundry and 
Machine shops ; the Star Handle Manufactory; one sash, door and 
blind factory ; one Excelsior or wood moss establishment ; a large 
flouring mill; four wagon and carriage shops; one tannery — among 
the most extensive in Northwestern Ohio; two woolen factories ; two 
breweries; five blacksmith shops; one distillery; four millineiy 
shops, and six establishments that manufacture boots and shoes. 

The Delphos Stone and Stave Company, with a capital of $35,000, 
is owned by Delphos capitalists, but the manufacturing executed in 
Paulding county. 

A more full exhibit of the magnitude of some of the above nam- 
ed manufacturing establishments may be mentioned : 

The Delphos Union Stave Company employs seventy-five hands, 
and produces 1150,000 annually of flour and sugar barrel staves, 
headings and hoops. This establishment, in the use of its raw ma- 
terial, has utilized a character of swamp timber (such as water elm, 
•etc.,) hitherto regarded by wild land owners and farmers as worse 
than worthless. A thorough test has established the fact that no 
timber is better adapted to the production of barrel staves, than this 
once repudiated swamp elm. The Union Stave Company, employ- 
ing constantly a large force of hands, is one of the most important 
manufacturing enterprises of Delphos. The officers of the Compa- 
ny are, G. W. Hall. President; J. Orstendorff, Vice President; J. 
M. C. Marble, Treasurer, and J. W. Hunt, Secretary. To the sagaci- 
ty and energy, primarily, of Messrs. Marble and Hunt, the Delphos 
people are indebted for the founding of this valuable enterprise ; and 
they would not have been successful, had not Mr. Orstendorf, acting 
in conjunction with them, succeeded on a trip to Indiana, in secur- 
ing the aid of a practical man, in the person of Mr. G. W. Hall, 
now President of the Company, then in business at New Haven, 
Allen county, Indiana. Mr. Hall, through the persuasion of Mr. 
Orstendorf, withdrew from his business and partnership at New 
Haven, and, in the spring of 1809, concentrated his useful energies 
and skill in the work of building up the great enterprise at the head 
of which he now stands. 

The Ohio Wheel Company, whose headquarters have hitherto been 
at Toledo, ascertained that their interests would be promoted by a 
removal of their whole manufacturing facilitves to Delphos, and an 
increase of their capital stock to $200,000, vhe principal part of 
which has been subscribed and is owned by Delphos citizens. They 
commence with the employment of 150 hands, and it is estimated 
that their annual sales will reach, after fully in operation, half a mil- 
lion of dollars. Their shipments are made to points on both the 
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The officers of the Company are. Presi- 
dent, Henry Flickinger; Secretary and Treasurer, W. P. Garrett; 
Superintendent, Edward Flickinger, and Assistant Superintendent, 
M. A. Ferguson. There are few manufacturing establishments, even 
in Toledo, which excel the Ohio Wheel Company in the extent of 



Auglaize County-^ WapauTconrietta, 465 

its business, aiul there are none of greater importance to Ddplios. 
A contract for a brick building, four stories in height, 125x60 feet, 
has been let, and the structure nearly completed. The primary 
cause whicli resulted in the transfer of this important manufactory 
from Toledo to Delphos, existed in the fact that Messrs. Ferguson (!t 
Risk, who had been large luml>er and carriage timber dealers, with 
iieadquarters at St. ^Mary's, in August, 1870, received such substan- 
tial eiieouragement from Julin AI. (J. Marlde, T. Wrocklage & Co., 
and Phelan tS: Chambers, as induced them to remove to Deli)hos, 
and engage in the rough dressing of wagon and carriage stock. 
This Com[)any was organized by the parties above-mentioned, and 
engaged in business on a capital of S1"),OOU. The Ohio Wlieel Com- 
pany at Toledo, desirous of securing the exclusive advantages of the 
facilities controlled by the Delphos Company, opened negotiations 
which resulted in the transfer of their business location as above 
stated. 

Aside from the manufacturing establishments enumerated, the 
town contains a National Bank, under the directory of 1*. Phelan, 
Ji. Kuel, L. (1. Kalbuck, F.J. Lye, jr., Joseph Boehmer, T. Wrocklage, 
and J. M. C. Marble; President, J. Af. C. Marble; Cashier, Joseph 
Boi'hmer, and Teller, 0. Yettinger. There is also a Savings liank, 
under the management of a Board of Trustees, tnibracing the 
names of several of the most snV)Stantial men of Allen, Van Wert, 
and Putnam counties, — the following gentlemen constituting the 
Board : P. Phelan, Dr. .Moses Lee, F. J. Lye, Jr., T. Wrocklage;, \{. 
lieul, P. Walsh, Joseph Boehmer, V. IL Stallkamp, and John M. 
C. Marble. 

The town also contains seven dry goods, and ten family grociry 
and provision stores; three tiJie hotels; six establishments manu- 
facturing boots and shoes, and in ihe aggregate employing a large 
force; two hardware stores; three clothing stores, manufacturing 
goods; three drug stores, (including in their stocks, books, station- 
ery and notions); two saddle and harness manufactories ; live milli- 
nery establishments; one large llouring mill; two breweries; two 
woollen factories; live blacksmith shops; one hoop skirt factory ; one 
tannery, the largest in Nortwestern Ohio; the DL'l|)ho3 foundry ami 
machine shops, employing a cajtital of SiO,0«)(), — President, A. I'». 
Risk; Secretary, J. W. Hunt; Treasurer, U. J. Moening ; one dis- 
tillery, and one wood moss factory. 



AUGLAIZE COUNTY. 



Occupying close historical relations with the territory hitherto des- 
cribed, is the County of Auglaize, organized in the spring of 184S. 

Wa])aukonnetta was the residence of the noted Sluiwauec Chie'', 
Captain Jatnes Logan. This chief was a neph.-w of T.-.uiiiS'h, .i 



30 



466 Aiujtaize Qouniy-^-'Deatk of Octptain LogmU 

sister of the latter being Logan's mother. When the troops of "Win^ 
Chester occupied Defiance, Logan, on the 22d of Novemberj 1812, 
accompanied by Captain John and Bright-Horn, started a second 
time in the direction of the Rapids, resolved to bring in a prisoner 
or a scalp. Having proceeded down the north side of the Maumee, 
about ten miles, they met with a British officer, the eldest son of 
Colonel Elliott, and five Indians, among the latter an Ottawa Chief, 
and Winnemac, a Pottowatoniie Chief. After a fruitless effort to 
impress upon the minds of Elliott and party that they were friends, 
on their way to communicate to the British important information, 
Logan gave them battle, the conliict opening by Logan's shooting 
down Winnemac. At the same fire, Elliott fell; by the second, the 
young Ottawa chief lost his life; and another of the enemy was 
mortally wounded about the conclusion of the combat ; at which 
time Logan himself, as he was stooping down, received a ball just 
below the breast-bone ; it ranged downwards, and lodged under the 
skin on his back. In the meantime, Bright-Horn was also wounded, 
by a ball which passed through his thigh. As soon as Logan was 
siiot, he ordered a retreat; himself and Bright-Horn, wounded as 
they were, jumped on the horses of the enemy and rode to Winches- 
ter's camp, a distance of twenty miles, in five hours. Captain John, 
after taking the scalp of the Ottawa Chief, also retreated in safety, 
and arrived at camp next morning. 

Logan's wound proved mortal. He lived two days in agony, which 
he bore with uncommon fortitude, and died with the utmost compo- 
sure and resignation. "More firmness and consummate bravery 
has seldom appeared on the military theatre,'' said Winchester, in 
his letter to t;he commanding General. "He was buried with all the 
honors due to his rank, and with sorrow as sincerely and generally 
displayed as I ever witnessed," said Major Hardin, in a letter to Gov- 
ernor Shelby. His physiognom.y was formed on the best model, and 
exhibited the strongest marks of courage, intelligence, good humor, 
and sincerity. 

On his death-bed, Logan requested his friend. Major Hardin, son 
of the Colonel, to see that the money due for his services was faith- 
fully paid to his family. He also requested that his family be imme- 
diately removed to Kentucky, and his children educated and brought 
up in the manner of the white people. He observed that he had 
kdled a great chief; that the hostile Indians knew where his family 
lived, and that when he was gone, a few brave fellows might creep 
up and destroy them. 

Major Hardin, having promised to do everything in his power to 
have the wishes of his friend fulfilled, immediately obtained permis- 
sion from the General to proceed, with Logan's little corps of Indi- 
ans, to the village of Wapaukonnetta, where his family resided. — 
When they came near the village, the scalp of the Ottawa chief was 
tied to a pole, to be carried in triumph to the Council-house ; and 
Captain John, when they came in sight of the town, ordered the 



Auglaize Co.-^Col Johnson at Wapaukonnctta, 46 T 

puns of tlic piirty to be fired in quick succession, on account of tlie 
death of JjOgan. A council of the chiefs wus presently held, in 
which, after consulting two or three days, they decided against send- 
ing the family of their dejinrted hero to Kentucky. Tliey aiii)eared, 
however, to be fully sensible of the loss they had sustained, and 
were sincerely grieved for his deatli. 



Early in June, 1813, the mounted regiment of Colonel Richard 
M. Johnson, having reached Fort Meigs, that olliccr i)rocee(k"d alone 
up the Auglaize to the Indian village of Wai)aukonm.'tta, to procure 
some .Sha\winee Indians to act as guides and spies ; and alter a few 
days returned with thirteen Indians, among whom was the half- 
breed, Anthony Shane, whose father was a Frenchman, and in whom 
the largest conlidence was placed by those who knew him in the 
Northwestern army. Shane had been an active opponent of Wayne 
in 17'.i4, but after the treaty of Greenville, had been a most faitlilul 
friend to the United States. 

Colonel Johnson says that the place was " named after an Indian 
Chief long since dead, but who survived years after my intercourse 
commenced with the Shawauees. The chief was somewhat clnO- 
footcd, and the word has reference, I think, to that circumstance, 
although its full import I never could discover. For many years 
prior to 18-^9, I had my headfiuarters at "Wapaukonnettji. The l»usi- 
ness of the agency of the Shawanese, Wyandotts, Seneca?, and Del- 
awares, was transacted there." 

In August, 1831, treaties were negotiated with the Senecas of 
Lewiston. and the Shawanese of Wapaukounetta, by James (!ard- 
noraud Colonel John Mcllvaine, Commissioners on the part of the 
United States by the terms of which the Indians consented to give 
up their lands, and remove west of the Mississippi. The Shawanese 
had at that time about G6,000 acres in what was then Allen County, 
and, in conjunction with the Senecas, about 40.300 acres at I^ewis- 
ton. The Indians were removed to the Indian Territory, on Kansas 
river, in September, 1832, D. M. Workman and David Rohb being 
the agents for their removal. The celebrated chief and warrior, 
iilack Hoof, died at Wapaukonnctta, shortly previous to the removal 
of the tribe, at the age of 110 years. 

Among the early and most respected citizens of Wapaukonmtta, 
was Robert J. Skinner, who established the lirst Democratic pajier 
l)ul)lished in Dayton, — the first number of which was issued in De- 
cember, 181G. This i)apt.r was continued by him until 1830, in 
whieh year he removed to Pi<|ua, and established in that town the 
first democratic })ress. In 1S32, having received the appointment from 
I'resitlent Jackson of Receiver of the United States Land Oiliee, at 
Wajtaukonnetta, he removed to thai town, and continued a resident 
of tile place until June, 184'J when, being on a visit, with part of liis 
fauuly, at the house of a married daughter in Dayton, himself, wife, 



4G8 Auglaize Couniy-^JiJarUj BcttUrs and Ilistory. 



daughter and son, composing all the yisitors, were attacked with the 
cholera which prevailed in that city at the time, and, during one 
week, the four died of the disease. Mr. Skinner was a man of posi- 
tive character, of great enterprise, and a most useful citizen. He 
represented Montgomery county in the General Assembly, at the 
session of 1828-29, and the large territory, of which Allen county 
then formed a part, in the session of 1838-39. 

Among those at Wapaukonnetta who were residents about tlie 
time Mr. Skinner became a citizen of the place, w^ere Colonel Thos. 
B. Van Home, Register of the United States Land Office, Peter 
Hammel (a French Indian trader), Captain John Elliott fwho was 
an officer at HulFs surrender, and who had been, during several 
years, Government blacksmith at Wapaukonnetta), Jeremiah Ayres 
(who opened the first hotel in the town), Cummings & Mathers, and 
Samuel Case (the last three named being merchants), Henry B. 
Thorn (who also kept a tavern), and James Elliott. These, except 
a few itinerant traders, formed the population of the town, directly 
after the removal ol the Indians, in 1832-33. 

A son of Judge Michael Dumbroff, born in 1835, christened 
Charles, is said to have been the lirst white child born in Wapau- 
konnetta. 

Hon. George W. Andrews says : 

" Settlements were first made by white people Avithiu the limits 
now occupied by Auglaize county, in A. D. 1828, in St. Mary's 
township. The Shawauee tribe of Indians were then the occupants, 
in their way, and claimants of the country. Soon after followed a 
few settlements, by the Quakers establishing a mission among the 
Indians at Wapaukonnetta, in Duchouquet township ; and then a 
white settler here and there on the streams, throughout the territo- 
ry now composing the county, came in, and slov/ly clearing away 
the forest, they opened small tracts of land, which they cultivated 
undisturbed by the red men." 

On the 8th of September, 1812, the army reached St. Mary's, on 
its march to relieve the besieged garrison at Fort Wayne. There 
were at that time some block houses at St. Mary's, built for the se- 
curity of provisions, and protection of the sick. The point had pre- 
viously been known as Girty's town, named after the notorious Si- 
mon Girty. 



About the time that Tupper's expedition to the Maumee Rapids 
was in execution, near the close of the year 1812, General Harrison 
(ante p. 148,) determined to send an expedition of horsemen against 
the Miamies, assembled in the towns on the Mississiniwa river, a 
branch of the Wabash. The command was entrusted to Lieutenant 
Colonel Campbell. A deputation of chiefs from those Indians met 
General Harrison' at St. J\Iary's, early in October, and sued for 
peace. They agreed to abide by the decision of the President, and 



Auglaize County — Early Jlistory. 4G0 



in the meantime to send in five chiefs to he held as hostages. The 
l^rcsident replied to the communication of the General on this sub- 
ji'ct, that, as the disposition of the several tribes would be known 
best by himself, he must treat them as their conduct and the public 
interest mit^ht, in his judgment, re(juire. The hostages were never 
sent in, and further information of their intended hostility was ob- 
tained. 

At the time of their peace mission, they were alarmed by the suc- 
cessful movements which had been made against other tribes, from 
Fort Wayne, and by the formidable expedition which was penetrat- 
ing their country under General Hopkins. But the failure of that 
expedition was soon afterwards known to them, and they deter- 
mined to continue hostile. To avert the evils of their hostility was 
the ol)ject of their expedition against Mississinewa. ISaid Harrison : 

*' The situation of this town, as regards one line of operations, 
even if the hostility of the inhabitants was less equivocal, would 
render a measure of this kind highly proper; but, from the circum- 
stance of General Hopkins' failure, it becomes indispensable. Re- 
lieved from the fears excited by the invasion of their country, the 
Indians, from the upper part of the Illinois river, and to the south 
of Lake Michigan, will direct all their efforts against Fort Wayne, 
and the convoys which are to follow the left wing of the army. — 
^lississinewa will be their rendezvous, where they Avill receive pro- 
visions and every assistance they may require for any hostile enter- 
prise. From that place they can, by their runners, ascertain the 
period at which every convoy may set out from St. Clary's, and with 
certainty intercept it on its way to the ^laumee rapids. But that 
place being broken up, and the provisions destroyed, there will be 
nothing to subsist any body of Indians, nearer than the Potawati- 
mie towns on the waters of the St. Joseph's of the Lake."' 

This detachment numbered about 600 mounted men, armed with 
rifles. They left Franklinton on the 25th of November, 1812, by 
way of Dayton and Greenville, and reached the Indian towns on 
the Mississinewa, towards the middle of l)ecember, sutfering much 
from cold. In a rapid march upon the first village, eight warriors 
were killed, and forty-two taken prisoners, consisting of men, wo- 
men, and children. About a half hour before day,the morning follow- 
ing this charge, the detachment was attacked by the Indians, and after 
a siiarp but short encounter, with a loss of eight killed and forty- 
eight wounded, several of whom afterwards died, the enemy, des- 
pairing of success, tied precipitately, Avith a heavy loss. 



Hon. G. W. Andrews, from whose essay on the agriculture of 
Auglaize county, (piotation has already been made, says of the St. 
Clary's and Auglaize rivers: 

"The St. Marys river, years agone.like the Auglaize, was thought 
to be a large aud permanent stream of water, upon which boats of 



4*70 Auglaize County — Early Settlers. 



considerable capacity for lading would ascend for trading purposes, 
but that was many years ago. Now, like the Auglaize, it has per- 
manently but a small volume of water. It rises in the southern 
parts of St. Mary's and Washington townships, runs northwardly 
through St. Mary's, bending westward through Noble, northwest- 
ward through Salem, and continues nearly in the same direction 
until it reaches the Maumee at Fort Wayne." 

Among the early settlers in the neighborhood of St, Mary's, was 
W. H. H. Langly ; whose father, Bennett W. Langly, was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, and previous to that time had performed five 
years' service in the regular army. He was a soldier under Whist- 
ler, and aided in the erection of Fort Dearborn, at Chicago. 

Isaac Nichols came to St. Mary's in 1828. His son, Dr. Nichols, 
is now a resident of Wapaukonnetta. > 

The following were also among the early settlers : 

Henry Reickard, Christian Benner, John Pickrell, Amos Comp- 
ton, Joshua Warfield (sheriff), James W. Riley (Clerk Court Com- 
mon Pleas), Stacey Taylor (former Associate Judge and member of 
the General Assembly), William Armstrong (county Auditor), Dr. 
Huxford, Dr. Murdock, John Elliott (Captain in the war of 1812), 
John Armstrong (Associate Judge, settled here in 1817). \l. M. 
Helm, Samuel McKee, Gideon Mott, J. D. Blew, Dr. A. V. Med- 
bery, Sabirt Scott (formerly a member of the Ohio Senate, and also 
a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850-.51), Franklin 
Linzee (Clerk of Court), Rev. Asa Stearns (whose widow, Sophia 
Stearns, at the age of 91 years, is now living at St. Mary's, with her 
son, Dr. R. W. Stearns), A. K. Stearns, Henry Updyke, Henry 
Smith, who removed to Bremen in 1820, and from thence to St. 
Mary's township in about 1822, Cuthbert Vincent, Reeve Chapman, 
Morgan Cleaveland, J. Hollingsworth, Wm. Hollingsworth, Eleanor 
Armstrong, Wm. Lattimer, Robert Bigger, David Woodruff, Chas. 
Watkins, R. R. Barrington, John Baker, Picket Doty, John Haw- 
thorn, R. J. Crozier, Joseph Catterlin, C. P. Dimbaugh, Caleb Ma- 
jor (Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner), Elam Frost, 
Robert Elliott, William Elliott, Samuel Scott, Isaac Helm, John S. 
Houston (County Surveyor), Samuel Johnson, Thomas Longwith^ 
Elias McAllister (the first hatter in St. Mary's), Charles Murray 
(the first white Indian trader who settled upon the banks of the St. 
Mary's, and at whose house, in 1817, the treaties were made with 
the sachems and chiefs of the Indian nations), Barney Murray, L. 
D. McMahon, James Vincent, Malachi Vincent, Thomas S. Sturgeon, 
James Gibson, and Andrew Collins. 

S. R. Mott, who was a resident of St. Mary's in 1833, was admit- 
ted to the bar in March, 18'41. At that time, E. M. Phelps, William 
M. Crane, and Oliver C. Rood, were the resident lawyers in practice. 

William Sawyer, when 15 years of age, commenced, in Dayton^ 
work as a blacksmith's apprentice. This was in 1816. After the 
close of his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman at Dayton^ 



Auglahe Coxniiy — St. Marys in 1872. 471 



aiul at the Indian Agency, near Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in 
1H:20. removed to Mianiishurg, Montgomery county, and established 
liimself in business. During liis residence in Montgomery county, 
ho served five terms in the House of Representatives of the Ohio 
General Assembly — commencing in 183U — the last year of whidi 
(session of 1h;>o-.'5G,) he Mas chosen Speaker. In 1838, and again in 
1810. he was a candidate for Congress, against Patrick (J. Goode, 
and defeated in botli trials. In IS-iS, he removed to .St. A^ary's, and 
in the year following, 1814, was elected to Congress, and re-elected 
in 1S4(), — liis Congressional service running through the term of Mr. 
Polk's administration, and closing March .'!, 1840. In 18.50, he was 
a member of the Constitutional Convention. In October, 1855, he 
was elected a member of the House of Representatives, of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, from Auglaize county. 

During the year 185."), he was appointctl by President Pierce Re- 
ceiver of the Land OtHce for the Otter Tail District, Minnesota, re- 
appointed by President Buchanan, and removed by President Lin- 
coln within twenty days after his inauguration, for political reasons, 
alone. 

In 18C9, he was a])pointed by Gov. Hayes one of the Trustees of 
the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, and during the last 
six years has been acting ^layor and Justice of th.e Peace at St. 
Mary's. 



The old block house at St. Mary's was demolished in 1800-34 by 
a person wlio used the material lor fuel, exciting greatly the indig- 
nation of the inhabitants. The limbs of a large burr oak tree, stand- 
ing about 180 yards distant from the tort, and bearing heavy foliage, 
was used by tlie Indians as a covert, from which they fired uj)on the 
soldiers in the fort. After the discovery of the uses being made of 
it, the tree was trimmed of its limbs. It, however, survived many 
years ; but, finally, within the last two 'years, yielded to the pres- 
sure of a storm, and fell to the ground. 

The St. Mary's of 1872 is a very flourishing town, having better 
business prospects than have been offered in any former ])eriod of 
its history. Defore these pages will have been issued from the press, 
in addition to the trans])ortation and manufacturing facilities afford- 
ed by the canal and reservoir, it will be in convenient communica- 
tion with some of the leading railway lines of the country, through 
the opening of the Louisville and Lake Erie road. The town is sit- 
uated upon elevated ground, being .308 feet above the level of Lake 
Eric. Among its superior advani.ages is its water power, afforded 
by the Mercer County IJeservoir. A large canal basin occupies a 
l)lace near the centre of the town. 

In manufactures. St. Mary's has three grist mills; one woollen 
factory; one flax mill; two planing mills ; three saw mills; one 
foundry; one distillery ; one hub and sjiokc factory; one carriag 



472 Auglaize Co.-— St, Mary's in 1872 — First Court. 



do; two cigar do; two brick yards; one tile factory; one lime 
kiln ; two tanneries ; one linseed oil mill ; two furniture factories ; 
one photooraph gallery; two bakeries ; two stove and tin shops; 
two merchant tailor establishments; three millinery do; four boot 
and shoe shops ; two meat markets, and two wagon shops. Also, 
two hotels; two pork packing houses ; two warehouses; two livery 
stables, and one nursery. 

In stores, there are four dry goods ; seven grocery and provision ; 
two drug ; one liquor ; one watch and jewelry ; two hardware ; one 
hat. cap and shoe, and one fish and wild game depot. 

The churches are, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and 
German Lutheran. St. Mary's has also a first-class Unicn School, 
having English, German, and classical departments. 

Hon. Ph. V. Ilerzing, member of the Board of Public AVorks, 
furnishes the following table ot some of the principal articles ship- 
ped from St. Mary's during the season of canal navigation of the 
year 1871 : 

Lumber and timber — feet l,f)49,0GG 

Hooppoles, staves, hubs, and tpolies — pieces.. -. 1,908,518 

Grain and flour— pounds ."'-'■'' " t9,063,5S2 

Seeds, " r^l:.^ 1>>R4,G20 

Linseed oil, " ''55,431 

Pork and Lard, " -29.255 

Railroad ties — pieces 65.S55 

Firewood — cords 4,207 

Oil cake — pounds 1,0(31,591 

Sundries, " 1,182,910 

The above exports do not include the large amount of articles shipped 
via the Dayton and Michigan railroad, during the close of canal naviga- 
tion in the winter. 



The first term of the Court of Common Pleas, in Auglaize 
County, was held in May, 1848 ; Patrick C Goode, President 
Judge, and George W. llolbrook, David Simpson and John Mc- 
Lean, associates. 

The first term of the Supreme Court was held in June, 1850, by 
Judges Edward Avery, and Rufus P. Spalding. 

At the election held October 10, 1818, the following county ofli- 
cers were elected : 

Auditor, Marmaduke Smith; Treasurer, John J. Rickley ; Sheriff", 
John Elliott ; Commissioners, S. M. Dreese, Shadrack Montgome- 
ry, and Hugh T. Rinehart ; Recorder, Simon Dresher; Prosecuting 
Attorney, George W. Andrews; Coroner, Amos S. Bennett; Sur- 
veyor, Dominicus Fieitz. 

Mr. Andrews, in his essay from which quotations have already 
been made, thus refers to Wapaukonnetta, the county seat : 

"The first immigrant found an Indian village on t''e site where 



A lujlaize County- - I \ \qMi ulon netta. 473 



tl,e town now slands. The council house of (he Shawanese Rtoo<l 
•ibout the c.Mitre of the j.resent town— was a block buiUliiip about 
'V) by :;.") feet, and about eiijht fed story. It remaiiiod standing, in 
pretty <^ood preservation, until isf)!*, when a j.urchaser of the lot on 
which it stood, thinkini: a valuable brick buil.lin;^ woul-l contribute 
more to the interests of a community of white men, and especially 
to the interests of his own pocket, than the reminder of delibera- 
tions of savacres, tore it down. The writer of this essay, in the year 
ls.-,(3 tore down an Indian hut, ^vhicli was standin.i,' on a lot oi his, 
that'was the honored residence of a chief The buildiu'- was con- 
structed of round loirs, not exceeding,' .-ix inches in diameter, was 
about ten feet by fourteen, and seven feet hi-h. These were the ast 
remains of the Indian viUacce, which derived its name from a chiut 
of hi.-h standincr— Waughpaughkonnetta. The word has been be- 
reft of its surplus letters, retained as the name ot the town, and 
built on the identical site of the old Indian one, which is our county 
Beat, as above stated." 

The ori-'inal proprietors of Wapaukonu' tta were Robert J. Skin- 
n-r Thumlis 11. Van llorne, Joseph Barnett, Jonathan Iv AVilds, 
and I'eter ^ vf-henbaut,di. The town was platted in 1833, and at the 
first pnblK .we eiiihtv^-four lots were purchased, ranuing from 8:20 
to ?1 4<" -the one brii'ming the latter figures being lot No. 30. corner 
public quare and WilUpie street, and purchased by E. C. Case. 
Peter Hummel paid siiiu for lot 13, Auglai/e street, upon which 
then stood the Indian trading post. The old Indian coumi house 
..eciipied lot No. 3, Auglaize street, now used by Samuel liitler and 
J II Doeiiuf', for a hardware store and residence. 

Tlie town contains a public and a private school,— the latter under 
the mana-emeut of the Catholic Church ;— one rie.^byten.an, one 
( atholic one Methodist, and two German and one Jvngli.'-h Luthe- 
nin Ciuirch— all the buildings being of brick, and attended regular- 
ly by large coni^regations. 

The newspapers of Wapaukonnctta are, the Auglaize County 
/>mo6-m/, 11. r. Kelly, editor and publisher; and the \\aupaukon- 
iieHta Couranf, E. B. Walkup, editor and i)ubli8her. 

In manufactures, it has a woollen mill, machine shop, spoke and 
hub factory, a cooper establishment, employing an annual capital ot 
>^1(»()0()U and two larire fiourini,' mills— all these establishments be- 
in-' operate-l by steam ; two j.rivate banks; two carriage factories, 
and three wagon shops; three hotels, all good (the Burnett 
House, by F. II. Kenthan, ranking among the lest between C mciii- 
nati an.l Toledo); six houses dealing in general merchandis^o, and 
two in hardware, two in boots and shoes, five in groceries and pro- 
visions, two in chnhinu', an-l three in drugs and medicines, and fo-ir 
millinery establishments. To these may be ad.led lour blacksmith 
shops, eight shoe do; one pump, two cigar, one haH bushel, one 
candy, aiid one tros< hoop manufactory, and three livery stables. 



474 Auglaize County — Taxable Jjasis, Towiis^ Etc. 



TliG taxable Ijasis ol" Auglaize coimly, in 1H7I, waH aH follows: 

Value of limds $4,170,27() 

Viiluc of town property 1,01(;,51!) !{5r,,21(;,70rj 

Viiliie of elialld properly ],G3G,0J)3 

Makiii^^ ;i total of... $0,852,888 

In llu! town of St. IMary's, in I8r21, the total valuation of real and 
personal (istate, for taxat/ioii ])ur))OseM, amounted to f7(i.7(), and 
in ISTI, to $7S(), 1 15.00. In VVapaukoiinetta, the total valuation in 
IH7I, amounted to $70rt,|()().00. 

Kcgardini^ other towns in Auglai/o county, Mr. Andrews thus 
referH to them : 

'^New Bre^nen — Is on the canal, contains 1,200 inhabitants, and 
possesses a good deal of wealth. This town, also, has good water 
powcM", and has two llouring mills, a hu'ge and line %voollen i;u;tory, 
;in oil mill, and otlu^r minor eslablishmenls — the machinery of all 
of which is j)ro])clled by wat(ir. The town is very thriving, and the 
people ai'e enterprising. They are all Germans, and tlu' village i.s 
located in German township. It bids fair to be a large ])lace. 

" Alififiler — Is situated three miles south of New JJremcn, on the 
canal, in Jackson township, containing 1,000 inhabitants, all Ger- 
mans ; is a neat, growing town, has a large ilouring mill, woollen 
manufactory, ami two mills for cutting lumber — all propelled by 
steam. There is, also, in the town, one of tlio largest and best ap- 
pointed lager beer breweries in the State. 

" New Knoxville — This town is in Washington township, contains 
about two hundred inhabitants, and is a growing j)lace. 

" CrideriuUc is six miles north of Wapaukonuetta, on the D. and 
M. railroad, in Duchouquet township, contains 250 inhabitants, and 
is rapidly improving. 

" St. Johns is on the Wapaukonnetta and Belle Centre turnpike, 
six miles east of Waj)aidv()nncLta, is one of the oldest towns in tlie 
coimly, contains a larger number of inhabitants than Criderville, and 
is cpiite a business place. 

" \V(ii/)ies/ict//, situated in AVayne townshij), is a growing town, 
lias a large steam flouring mill, and a mill tor cutting lumber, con- 
lainfi about 250 inhabitants, who are exhibiting a spirit of interprise 
unusual in towns of this size. 

" Nciv Jfftjnpshire is in Goshen township, and is, as well as 
Waynesfield, in the eastern portion of the county. This town con- 
tains a llouring mill ])ropelled by steam. 

" Uiiioiiopolis is in Union township, situated in a rich neighbor- 
hood, but does not give evidence of much future growtli. 

" /Cossufh is in Salem township, on the canal, and does a good 
trailing business. It will not probably become a very largo town.'' 



Crawford CouiUii—Juirlij llUionj. 



475 



T!,.. lirst fr.U'nil consu.s of tho county was uk.n m IK.O, and U.en 
evlnl.ilr.1 u iH.pulHtion oni.:;:58; in IHOO, of 17. H7; and .n IH.O, 
of •iO.on. Tlu- five oolorc-d i.opulal.on ha.l H;K'>lHr V ^1"';"';^!>;;\7 
th.' ntun.s .,[• 18.JU .showing 87; Ib'H) ivcluad to (.l.uiul 187U le- 
duotil to <)1. 

Tlu- folluwin- is :i tal.l.; <.f the aovcrul census icluiua hincc the or-uni/..ili..n 
of Aiigliii/.t! County: 



TOWHB AHD TOWHiUrPB. 



Clny 

I)U(li<ili<liirt 

("ridt-rvilU' 

Wiil»ii\iki)nntltii. 
({(•rnmn {h) 

New Jiri-incn 

Over liirnitn 

(ioj-lii'ii 

Jackson {h) 

^linsliT 

Loiraii 

iMoullon 

Nol>l.- 

ruciici.i 

S;ilcni 

Kossuth 

Si. Marv's 

St. "Mary's 

Union 

Wasliington 

Wiivnc 



1870 



109.") 

yt).'-)!) 

I(i7 

2ir.() 

175') 

.VJS 

42:i 

UiK) 

ii.v.» 

12il() 

.S77 

112 

2120 

i:i7() 

1 1112 

840 

ion 



ISIW 

1001 
2/502 

'»(»() 

1721 

;J79 

2r.<> 
MM 

in.'-, I 
7r,2 
701 ; 
7; It 

«20 

12K0 

077 



2:{ 12 
lir,! 
I4;i0 

•JUO 
877 



840 
140S 

2242 



42.S 
4)0 

wm 
loos 

470 

7(5 

H7:« 

lOOS 

0^8 

671 



(i) In 1859, Jttcksou Irom German. 



CRAWFORD COUNTY 

Was formed from oM Indian territory, April I, 1820. The onn- 
tv derives its luu.ie from Colonel William CrawL.rd whose nnlor- 
tunate expedition and f.ite have been related in precedin- pa^ns. 

Tlie toilowin^ extracts are In.m the recollections of Jolm M..Uer- 
wcll, puldishod in the Uucyrns ./uurnul, in 1808 : 

"The dimculties and trials of the early settlers of Crawf .rd conn- 
tv, although not so great as those encountc-red by the earlier set h-rs 
uc'stof tlu^ Alleghenies, were yet such as wonld be considered .3 
tl.cir de.scendant8 of tlu- l-rcsent day as almost insnrm..untable 
Nearly all the land, wiil.in the present limits of the connty. w.h 
. „v,.n'd by a forest ..f heavy timiicr, which almost entirely 1"'--V'.nl.- 
>d the son's rays from reaching the gronnd. 1 lus, m connection 



476 Crawjord County — Early History. 



M'ith tlie formation of the country, and the nature of tlie soil, nec- 
essarily made very muddy roads, even with the little travel then pass- 
ing over them. And mud, and the fever and ague, produced by 
about the same causes, were great drawbacks to the rapid improve- 
ment of the country. The distance from mills, and from settle- 
ments, were also among the serious difficulties they had to contend 
with. For several years, nearly all the flour used had to be brought 
from the mills on Mohican creek, and its tributaries, in Eichland 
county, thirty and forty miles distant. The practice then was, to 
make a trip to the vicinity of one of these mills — purchase a small 
quantity of wheat from some of the settlers there — place it upon 
your ox wagon, or pack it on your horse, or upon your own back, 
and, after being ground, return the flour in the same way — the voij' 
age consuming a week to ten days. 

" Most of the pioneers were men of ^mall means. Their stock of 
cash being generally exhausted upon paying the government price 
for eighty, or, at most, one hundred and sixty acres of land, many 
became discouraged at the hardships they had to encounter, and re- 
turned to their old homes. Multitudes of others would have done 
so, could they have raised the means. This, however, did not last 
long ; most of them becoming entirely satisfied after a few years' 
residence — 'the improvement of the country each year making it more 
tolerable to live in, and giving increasing promise of its future pros- 
perity. 

" The total change in the appearance of things, to one who can 
look back forty-five years, seems almost miraculous; and could one 
of the residents here in 1825, after an absence of nearly half a cen- 
tury, now return, he would find it difficult to recognize a single fa- 
miliar landmark, or half a dozen familiar faces ; and one who has 
faithfully put in a whole day on horseback, from here to Mansfield, 
and now finds himself set down there by the cars in one hour, some- 
times finds it difficult to realize that he is not in the situation of 
the fellow who had either found a cart or lost a yoke of oxen ; and 
one who has not a correct record of his age is inclined to think he 
has been here a century instead of less than half a one. 

" The first arrival of white settlers occurred in 1810. Of these, 
in addition to those who settled in the immediate vicinity of Bucy- 
rus, we remember Resolved White, a descendant of the child born in 
the Mayflower ; Rudolph Morse, and David Cummins, in the pres- 
ent limits of Auburn township; Jacob Snyder, near Leesville ; Da- 
vid Anderson, and Andrew Dixon and sons, in Vernon township ; 
John Brown and his son Michael Brown, on the farm owned by tbe 
late Mr. Beltz, of Polk township; David lleid, and two men named 
Fletcher, a little south of that point. In Sandusky township, there 
were Westell Ridgely and J._ S. Griswell, near where the Bucyrus 
and Lieesville road crosses the Sandusky river. A little south was 
Peter Bebout; Samuel Kniseley, at Kniseley's springs, and his bro- 
ther Joseph, and Jolin 15. French, just north of him. Near the 



Crawford Couniy — Early Mietory. 477 



Bear Marsh, Isaac Mattluws, William Ilaiulley, Nelson Tustason, 
two lamilii'S of Mclntyres, ami Julin David. 

" Samuel Norton, the Ibunder of Bucyrus, sijuatted on the fiuarter 
soction of land upon which the town was afterwards laid out, in the 
same year, and erected his first cabin on the river bank, a short dis- 
tance above the })resent railroad bridge. In this cabin was born his 
daughter Sopjironia, who was the fir:>t white child born on the town 
])hit, or pruliably within the present limits of the county. At. this 
time his only nei^iibors were David Beadle, and his sons Alishel and 
David, Daniel iMcMichael, and Joseph Young. Of these, Daniel 
>rt'.Michai'l settled on a quarter section two miles east of the river, 
part of which is now owned by Joseph Albright, and afterwards 
bought the eighty acres immediately north of town, on the pike; and 
also the tract upon which John Heinlin's additions have been laid 
out. Young settled on the farm now owned by John A. Gormly, 
near Esquire Stewart's; Mishel Beadle on the farm now owned by 
Jj. Converse and David Beadle, just southwest of town, at the Lud- 
wig orchard, and John Ensley where widow Minich now lives. 

'•The lands in the county, except the Wyundott Indian reserva- 
tion, were brought into market, and olfered for sale at Delaware, 
Ohio, in the following year. 

'' Jiucyrus was laid out in 18-22, by Samuel Ni^rton, proprietor of 
the land, and Colonel James Kilbourne, late of Worlhington, Ohio, 
well known at that time as a jiioneer and surveyor. The lots were 
soon after otl'ered at pul>lic sale, and brought from oO to 45 dollars 
each. Norton was the lirst settler on the site of the town, and 
moved in from Pennsylvania in 1819, and wintered in u small vabin 
of poles, which stood on the Ijanks of the Sandusky. Tiio lots trans- 
lerred at this sale were all on Sandusky Avt'uue and Walnut street, 
and but few south of the public square. At this date, in addition 
to Norton, there were living, in the new town, I^wis and Abid 
(.'arey, Lewis Stej»henson, Kobert Moore, J. S. George, George P. 
Seluiltz, Samuel lioth, Harris Garton, Harry Smith, llussel Peek, E. 
B. and Charles Merriman and a few others. 

"The lirst frame building erected in the town, was about !."> by ].") 
fiet. and stood on the ground now occupied by ^Ir. G. John's jiro))- 
erty, north of the railroad. The lirst brick, on the lot where Blair 
& Pickering's brick buildings now stand. 

" The tjrst mill for grinding grain was erected by Abel Carey, on 
tno river just west of the north end of Main street. It was after- 
wards removed to where McLain's mill now stiinds — subsec^uently 
destroyed by lire, and the i^redent mill erected in 18-i4. 

*-The lirst school taught in the town, was in a log shanty, on the 
ri\er bank, near the north end of Spring street. Horace Kowse was 
a scholar in this school, and is probably the only person now living 
Ijere who attended it. The lirst building erected expressly for school 
purposes was of round logs, and Ptood near the pre.'^ent Catholic 
Churcli ; after this, a small one-story brick was built on the lot now 



4? 8 VraidfOrd Oounty---Old and Present Officer^. 



occupied by the frame school house, near the depot, and was used as 
a school house, court room, town hall, and house for religious wor- 
ship. When used as a court room, the jury had to be accommoda- 
ted in shops, etc., in other parts of the town. Among the early 
teachers, were Colonel Zalmon Kowse, Horace Pratt, 8allie Davis, 
Doctor Horton, Mrs. Espy and daughters, Mr. White, and others. 

"Crawford, though formed in 1820, was attached to Delaware 
coiinty, and afterwards to Marion, until the session of the Legisla- 
ture of 1825-26, when an act was passed organizing the county, and 
directing county commissioners to be elected, at the ensuing April 
elections, who were to fix upon a temporary seat of justice. The 
people in the southern part of the county were in favor of Bucyrus 
as the county seat, and those living in the western part insisted 
upon its being located in a town called Crawford, laid out by Joseph 
Newell, on land now owned by Thomas Hall, on Brokensword. Thos. 
McClure, John Magers, and John Poe, the candidates in favor of 
Bucyrus, were elected, and the county seat temporarily established, 
by them, at Bucyrus. A few years later, this location became per- 
manently fixed by a board of commissioners appointed by the leg- 
islature for the purpose, consisting of Judge Williams, of Delaware, 
liodolphus Dickinson, of Lower Sandusky, and J. S. Glassgo, of 
Holmes couj;ity. 

"The first court held in the county was presided over by Judge 
Ebeuezer Lane, of Norwalk, President Judge of the circuit, and 
John Carey, E. B. Merriman, and John B. French, associate judges. 
The court sat in Lewis Carey's front room, in the house now owned 
by C. H. Schouert. Judge Lane was succeeded by Judge Higgins, 
and he by Judge Bowen, of Marion. The associate judges named 
above, were succeeded by Josiah Robinson, Abel Carey, George Poe, 
Andrew Taylor, R. W. Musgrove, James Stewart, and Robert Lee. 

" Mr. Beardslee received the first appointment as clerk, but short- 
ly afterward resigned, and was succeeded by Colonel Rowse, wlio 
held the office lor a number of years, as, also, at the same time, tliat 
of county recorder, and was succeeded, as clerk, by J. B. Larwiil, D. 
W. Swigart, Alexander P. Widman, etc., and as recorder, by Jacob 
Howenstein, and James Robinson. 

"The first sheriff" was Hugh McCracken, succeeded by John Mil- 
ler, John Moderwell, David Holm, John Shull, Samuel Andrews, 
James L. Harper, John Caldwell, and James Clements. 

"James Martin was the first county auditor, and he was succeeded 
by Charles Merriman, Edward Billips, John Caldwell, Jacob How- 
enstein, George Linn, Owen Williams, and John Pitman. 

" The first county treasurer was John H. Morrison, succeeded by 
General S. Myers, Geo. Lauck, and Chas. Hetich," 

The officers of the county serving in 1872, are the following : 
Thomas Coughlin, clerk ; Robert Lee, probate judse; William M. 
Scroggs, auditor; Job Franz, treasurer; James Worden, sheriff; F. 
M. Bo wyer, recorder; J. W. Coulter, prosecuting attorney; H. W. 



Crawford CounUj^^Old taivijerl 479 

McDonald, surveyor; Phillip Moffat, coroner ; Lewis Littler, James 
Hufty, and Charles Myers, commissioners ; Jervise Jump, John 
Adam Klink, and John Alloback, infirmary directors. 

" The first post office was opened in Bucyrus, in 1822, Lewis Ca- 
rey being postmaster, succeeded by Henry St. John, John Forbes, 
James McCracken, A. P. Widnian, and P. T. Johnson ; and the in- 
cumbent in 1872 being John Hopley. 

" The first lawyers who located here Were John 11. Morrison, Isaac 
H. Allen, M. Fleck, and another named Stanberg, known as the 
' linsey lawyer,' by reason of his making his firiit appearance in a 
suit of blue linsey woolsey goods. 

" Josiah Scott (late Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court,) 
established himself at Bucyrus in 1830 ; George Sweeney (formerly 
member of Congress, and who came about the same date with Mr. 
Scott) ; Franklin Adams, who commenced practice in 1837, and S. 
P. Harris, whose law practice at Bucyrus dates from 1819. 

" Of those from abroad, who formerly practiced in the Crawford 
county courts, there were Andrew Cofhnberry, May, Purdy, Stewart, 
McLaughlin, and Bartley, of Mansfield; Bowen, Godman, and Wat- 
son, of Marion ; Boalt, of Norwalk, Judge Parish, of Columbus, 
and others.'' 

For a list of those in practice in 1873, see Appendix marked A. 

"From 1819 to 1826, Mr. Heaman, Joseph Lonas, D. P. Dowling, 
Mr. Flake, Joseph Quaintance, Timothy Kirk, Joseph Newell, Mr. 
Spitzer, Jacob King, James Martin, Mr. Glover, Jacob AndrewS;,Eli 
Quaintance, Mr. Holmes, John McCulloch, and Daniel Snyder, were 
among the settlers of Holmes township, within the period above 
named.'' 

George Sweeney was among the early settlers. He was born in 
Adams county, Pennsylvania, and took up his residence in Bucyrus, 
October 21, 1830, and was elected to Congress in 1838, and re-elected 
in 18-40. His death occurred several years ago. 



The first official report extant of the session of the Board of Com- 
missioners of Crawford county (former records having been destroyed 
by fire), opens as follows: 

" Proceedings of the Commissioners of Crawford County, begun and 
held in the toivn of Bucyrus, on the 11 th and I8th days of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1831. 

^^ Beit resolved, That James McCracken, Esq., of Crawford coun- 
ty, be and hereby is appointed a Commissioner (in the room of \i. 
W. Cahill, Esq., resigned), to lay out a certain State road, commenc- 
ing at the town of Perrysburg, in Wood county ; thence to Mc- 
Cutcheonville ; thence to Bucyrus, in Crawford county. 

" Resolved, Tliat an order be issued to the Auditor, John Cald- 
well, for seventy dollars and sixty-eight cents, for his services as 
Auditor. 



4sO Cnxivford County — Jjiiajrus in 1872. 

'• Iiesoh'ed, That Z. Rouse be, and he is hereby aiitliorized to con- 
tract for books tor the Clerk's ami Recorder's otiices, to be paid out 
of the County Treasury." 



The county seat is an inland town of importance, and, as the fore- 
going statistics show, has made rapid advances since the date of the 
commencement of its growth, directly after the opening of the Ohio 
and Indiana (now Pittsburg. Fort AVayne and Chicago) railway. 
Another road of great importance, not only to Bncyrus, but to a 
large district of the Maumoe valley, and especially to Toledo — the 
Atlantic and Lake Erie — is nearly completed. The energy and pub- 
lic spirit which originated and has pushed forward this imporrant 
line, belong to Bucyrus, and chietly to D. X. Swigart. President, who 
has had the able co-operation of J. B. Gormly, the Secretary and 
Treasurer. 

Bucyrus has two newspapers — the Bucyrus Forum, semi-weekly, 
Tuesdays and Fridays, and weekly on Saturdays; establislied 1S44; 
J. l\, Ciymer, editor and proprietor. The Forum is one of the lar- 
gest and ablest journals in the Congressional district in which it is 
published, and has a circulation equal to the most popular of its co- 
temporaries. The Bucyrus Jonnu^I, J. Hopley, editor and pub- 
lisher, is also in prosperous condition. 

The city contains eight churches: — Presbyterian, German Luthe- 
ran, English Lutheran. German Methodist, Baptist, Gorman Ive- 
i'ormed, Catholic and Methodist Episcopal ; one ot the best-conduc- 
ted public school systems, the Bucyrus people claim, in the State — 
one of the buildings, containing thirty-six rooms exclusive of base- 
ment, and erected at a cost of $1 "^0,000 ; — two banks, the First Na- 
tional, and the private bank of John Scott, Biddle & Co., both 
solid institutions; and four good hotels (the Sims House, by J. Gold- 
smith, being tirst class) ; three llonring mills ; one saw do ; one hub, 
spoke and bent work factory ; one woolen mill ; one knitting nui- 
chine establishment, invented, and the tirst one erected in Bucyrus; 
one lamp-bracket factory; one agricultural machine works; one iron 
foundry; one smut mill factory ; one brewery; two tanneries; one 
woolen hose factory ; three clothing stores that manufacture; one 
tailor shop; six wagon and carriage do ; three blacksmitli do ; eight 
boot and shoe do ; and of other stores, six dry goods ; one music ; 
tlve tin, stove and hai'dware ; three drug, and two groceries and pro- 
visions Also, three meat markets, two harness shops, and two liv- 
ery stables. 

It will also be noticed, by reference to the census table, on a pre- 
ceding page, that there are several popiilous towns in Crawford 
county, aside from Bucyrus, the chief in business imporrauce being 
Crestline and Galion. 



Crawford County — Wealth and Populniion. 481 



The followinfj wiia thfi valuation of \<\\\ and personal property 
in Crawfijrd county, in IH.'iO: 
V'liUuitiini of farms and buildln>,'9 fSO.fllO 00 



Town lold aud liuildiogH. 



Personal properly, 



6, 035 00 

|97,'J4> 00 
$5H,C.V2 00 

Total $1.>5,HU7 00 

Valuation in 1871 was, of— 

Lands $7,510,400 00 

Town lots l.ftT.-i.HiO 00 

Penjwual property 5,101,54<J 00 

Total valuation in 1871 $14/}77,800 00 

in 1830 155.897 00 



Increase in 42 years f 14,521 ,90:i 00 

The following exhibits the progress of Crawford county in population : 



In IB^W 
















4,791 


In 1H40 
















13,l5'i 


In 1850 
















1K,177 


In 1800 
















2\m\ 


In 1870 
















25,558 




folifjwi 
— Ihefi 


ng tabic 
^ures bci 






progress of the 
census returns : 


se\ 


•eral 




And the 
townships, 


illustrates 
Qg those ol 


the 
the 


towns and 



Towns AXD TOW1IBBIP8. 



Auburn 

Wayneaburg 

IJucyrus 

IJucyrus 

Chatfleld 

Cranberry 

New Washington. 

Dallas 

Holmes 

Jackson 

Crestline 

Liberty 

Annapolis 

Lykins 

Polk- 

Gaiion 

Sandusky 

Texiuj 

Todd 

Vernon 

DeKalb 

Whetstone 

New Wincbester.. 



1870 


1860 


1860 


910 


1072 


951 


63 


55 




4184 


3731 


2315 


3OG0 


2180 




1247 


14 50 


1351 


1281 


13:^9 


1042 


273 


221 




370 


406 


406 


1572 


1039 


vi-.w 


4)21 


3200 


1711 


2279 


1487 





l.',97 


1788 


1782 


253 


177 




1140 


1265 


1185 


43';9 


2911 


1318 


WilA 


llifl7 




(iO"i 


792 


822 


56 i 


500 


545 


1156 


1093 


57H 


938 


1224 


1270 


70 


129 




1490 


1524 


1657 


52 







31 



482 Wyandot County — Organization^ c&c. 



WYANDOT COtJNTY 

Wiis formed from Crawford, Marion, Hardin, and Hancock, Feb- 
ruary 3, 184:5. A reference to former pages [see index] of this vol- 
ume will show that some of the most interesting events connected 
with northwestern history, occurred within the limits of Wyandot 
county. 

" Colonel John Bowman, in 1778, was meditating an expedition 
against the Shawanese villages, particularly Chillicothe (Oldtown, 
Greene county) ; and Kenton, accompanied by Alexander Mont- 
gomery, and George Clark, undertook to explore the route, and the 
vicinity and position of the town. This was elfectually done, and 
all risk would have been avoided, if the three spies had not yielded 
to the temptation of running off a drove of horses, which they 
found enclosed in a pound. It was late at night, but the noise of 
the operation alarmed the Indians in the adjacent village. Kenton 
and his companions were pursued, and although they reached the 
northern bank of the Ohio river with the stolen animals, yet, before 
its passage could be effected, they were overtaken, Montgomery 
killed, and Kenton made prisoner — Clark escaping. 

" The Indians were greatly exasperated at their captive, denouncing 
him as a ' tief — a boss steal — a rascal!' and he received no indul- 
gence at their hands, except that he was not struck dead with a tom- 
ahawk. Arrived at Chillicothe^ he ran the gauntlet, after which a 
council was held, and soon Kenton saw, from the manner of speak- 
ers and auditors, that he was doomed to die. When the vote was 
taken, those who were for his torture struck the war-club, which 
was passed from hand to hand, violently on the ground — their num- 
ber far exceeeding those who simply passed the club to a neighbor, 
in token of mercy. 

" Then arose a debate upon tlie time and place of the tragedy, and 
it was resolved that he be taken to Wapatomika (now Zanetfield, Lo- 
gan county). Soon after his arrival at this place, Simon Girty came 
to see him, and soon discovered that Kenton had been his compan- 
ion and friend at Fort Pitt, in Dunmore's expedition. Girty threw 
himself into Kenton's arms, embraced and wept aloud over him — 
calling him his dear and esteemed friend. This hardened wretch, 
who had been the cause of the death of hundreds, had some of the 
sparks of humanity remaining in him, and wept like a child at the 
tragical fate which hung over his friend. 

" ' Well,' said he to Kenton, 'you are condemned to die, but I will 
use every means in my power to save your life.' 

" The result of all Girty's efforts was to obtain a reprieve until the 
prisoner could be taken to Upper Sandusky, where the Indians were 
soon to assemble and receive their annuities and presents from the 
British agents. Ao the Indians passed from Wapatomika to Upper 
Sandusky, they reached a village on the head waters pf the Scioto, 
when Kenton, for the first time, beheld the celebrated Mingo chief, 



)ri/and^)( Count?/ — JCenton, Girty, <&c. 483 



Logan, wlio walked gravely up to the place whore Kenton stood, 
tiud the fullowing conversutiou ensued: 

"' ^yoll, young man, these young men socm very mad at you.' 

"* Yes, sir, they certainly are.' 

" ' Wfll, don't he di.-hearti'ned ; I am a great chief; you are to go 
to Upper Sandusky ; they speak of burning you there; but I will 
send two runners to-morrow, to speak good for you.' 

"Kenton's spirits immediately rose at the address of the benevo- 
lent chief, and he once more looked upon himself as providentially 
rescued from the stake. 

"On the fullowing morning, two runners were dispatched to 
Upper Sandunky, as the chief had promised, and, until their return, 
Kenton was kindly treated, bein^;* permitted to spend much time 
witii Logan, who conversed with him freely, and in the most friend- 
ly manner. In the evening the two runners returned, and were 
closeted with Logan. Kenton felt the most burning anxiety to 
know what was the result of their mission, but Ixigan did not visit 
him again until next morning. He then walked up to him, accom- 
])anied by Kenton's guards, and, giving him a piece of bread, told 
him that he was instantly to le carried to Upi)er Sandusky; and, 
without uttering another word, turned upon his heel and left iiim. ' 

"At Upper banduiky, Kenton was finally rescued from a death 
of torture, by the interposition of Peter Dru'yer, a Canadian French- 
man, who was a Captain in tlie British service, and acted as Lidian 
agent and interpreter. 

"It was to tills influential personage, probablv, that Logan's mes- 
sage had been conveyed. He oflered the Indians one hundred dol- 
lars in rum and tobacco, if they would allow him to take Kenton to 
Detroit for examination by the British governor, promi-'^inc to re- 
turn him when they should require. A slight additional remunera- 
tion, afterwards paid to the Iiidians, comid. t.-d the ransom of Ken- 
ton, who accompanied Captain Druyt-r to Detroit, and about a year 
afterwards f 8ca])ed and returned to Kentucky."—,/. IT. Tuylur's His- 
tory of Ohio. 

"The Wyandot, or 7///rr;;i tribe, as they were anciently called," 
says IL ury Howe, " were the bravest of the race, and had among 
their chiefs some men of high moral character. With a 1 othe*r 
tribes but the Wyandots, lliglit in battle, when meeting with unex- 
pected resist^iuce or obstacle, brouf^ht with it no disgrace ; but with 
them it was otherwise. Their youth were taught to consider any- 
thing that had the appearance of an acknowledgment of the supe- 
riority of the enemy as disgraceful. In the battle of the Maumee 
Rapids, of thirteen chiefs of that tribo, who were present, one only 
survived, and he badly wounded. Wlun Cieneral Wavne, prior to 
the battle, s^^nt for Captain Wells, and requested him to go to San- 
dusky and take a prisoner, for the purpose of obtaining informa- 
tion, Wells — who had been bred with tlie Indians, and was perfectly 



484 Wyandot County and the Wyandots. 



acquainted with their character — answered that he could take a pris- 
oner, but not from Sandusky, because Wyandots would not be taken 
alive.'' 



The Methodists sustained a mission among the Wyandots for 
many years. Pi-evious to the establishment of the Methodists, a 
portion of the tribe had been for a long while under the religious 
instruction of the Catholics. The first Protestant who preached 
among them, at Upper Sandusky, was John StcAvart, a mulatto, and 
member of the Methodist denomination, who came to the place of 
his own accord, in 1816, and gained much influence over them. His 
efforts in their behalf paved the way for a regularly established mis- 
sion a few years later, when the Rev. James B. Finley formed a 
school and established a church here. This was the first Indian 
mission established by the Methodists in the Mississippi Valley. 
The mission church building was erected of blue lime-stone, about 
the year 1824, by the United States Government, having permission 
from John C. Calhoun, then Secretary of War, to apply $1,333 to 
this object. The walls of the building, in a dilapidated condition, 
only now remain. Connected with the mission was a school house, 
and a farm of 160 acres of land. 

The original inscriptions on the monuments ^u the grave-yard, 
attached to the mission, have been rendered illegible by thoughtless 
hands, who have broken the stone and carried off the fragments as 
relics. Among the monuments erected to the memory of historical 
characters, was one to " Between-the-Logs," who was among the 
first converts under the labors of John Stewart, and afterward be- 
came the most celebrated preacher among the Wyandots, and who 
died December, 1826, aged 50 years. Another to the memory of 
Eev. John Stewart, above-mentioned, who died December 17, 1833, 
aged 37 years. 

The inscription on the stone at the head of another grave, reads as 
follows: "Sum-mum-de-wat, murdered December 4, 1845, aged 46 
years. Buried in Wood county, Ohio." 

"The remains of Sum-mum-de-wat," says Mr. Howe, "were sub- 
sequently re-interred here. He was, at the time of his death, on a 
hunting excursion with his family in Hancock county. In the even- 
ing, three white men, with axes, entered their camp, and were hos- 
pitably entertained by their host. After havina: finished their sup- 
pers, the Indian, agreeable to his custom, kneeled and prayed in his 
own language, and then laid down with his wife to sleep. In the 
night, these miscreants, who had been so kindly treated, rose on 
them in their sleep, and murdered Sum-mum-de-wat and his wife, 
with their axes, in the most brutal manner. They then robbed the 
camp and made off, but were apprehended and allowed to break jail.'' 

In speaking of this case. Colonel Johnston says, " that, in a period 
of fifty three years, since his intimate official relations with the In- 



Wyandot County — Pioneers^ cfv. 485 



dians, he never knew of but one instance in which a white man was 
tried, convicted and executed for the murder of an Indian. This 
exception was brought about hy liis own n;,'('ncy in the prosecution, 
Fustaiued by the ]ironii)tness of Joiin C Callioun, then Secretary of 
War, who manifested an interest in this affair not often shown on 
similar occasions in the officers of our government.'' 



On the liauk of the river, about a mile above Upj)er Sandu.sky, is 
a huge sycamore, which measures around, a yard from its ba e, 37 
feet, and, at its base, over 40 feet. The soil, particularly the bottom 
lands in the neighborhood of Upper JSandusk}-, is among the most 
fertile in Ohio. 

Among the pioneers of the county, was Peter Bowsher, who, with 
liis son Robert, commenced his residence in Pitt townshij), then Craw- 
ford county, on the 4th of June, 1821. The son first named is now 
a resident of Upper Sandusky, and two other sons, Antiiony and 
Solomon, are also residents of the county. 

It is claimed, however, that the first white settler witliin the lim- 
its of Wyandot county, wa.s a soldier named SIcLish, who came to 
the county with General Harrison's army, and who, after the war, 
kept a ferry at the crossing of the 'J'ymochtee, on the road leading 
from Upper to Lower San<lusky. 

Michael Brackley, of McCutchenville ; Closes 11. Kirl)y, Indian 
agent, prior to the removal of the Wyandots; Guy C. Worth, who 
removed to Little Sandubky in 1833; Captain S. M. Worth, John 
.\. Gormley. John Baker, Chester R. Mott, J. D. Sears, Robert Mc- 
Kelley, Dr. James McConnell, Wm. Brayton, David Ayres, and 
Peter B. Beidler, were also among the early settlers- 
Curtis Berry, Sr., removed to Crawford township, three miles 
northeast of Carey, in 1827. The ]ilace was on the old trail between 
Upper Sandusky and Big Spring, at the head of Blanchard's fork. 
His sons, Curtis, Jr., and John, are now residents of Upper San- 
dusky. 

- George Harper (with his father's, Samuel Harper's, family), in 
March, 1X"21, removed from Ross county, Ohio, to the township now 
called Sycamore. The territory then belonged to the civil jurisdic- 
tion of Delaware county, and was on the margin of the Wyandot 
reservation. At the date mentioned, there were not half a dozen 
families within the present limits of Wyandot county — those fami- 
lies being estalilished in what is now known as Pitt township. 

Conrad Hare removed to Crawford township (near what is now 
Carey), in 1833, and died in 1847. 1 1 is widow yet resides on the eld 
homestead, and his son, I. S. Hare, at Upper Sandusky. 

C. T. Pierson rt move d to Titlin in 1831, and in 1841 (o Upi>er 
Sandusky, and purchased of Silas Armstrong (Wyandot), a leafc 
running two years, — said lease embracing a tavern stand and other 
improvements. 



486 Wyandot County — Its Wealth, d:c. 



John Carey removed to Tymochtee in the fall of 182r], During 
eevenil years he has been a resident of the town that hears his 
name. 

In the above partial list of the pioneers are included some of 
those who have held, and others now holding, important ofRcial 
trusts at the hands of their fellow citizens. 



The first tax duplicate of Wyandot county was made in 1845. 
The sale of the Wyandot reserve, by tbe United States, in Septem- 
ber and October of that year, exempted the lands, and Upper San- 
dusky town lots, under the United States laws, from tfixation by 
State authority, until five years from the date of sale. Hence, the 
farm lands, and town lots, made at this sale, were first entered upon 
the tax-list of 1851. 

The first duplicate, therefore, only exhibited, "subject to taxation, 
lo8,U05 acres, valued at $310,954. These taxab'e lands were from 
the territory taken from the counties of Crawford, Marion, Hardin, 
and Hancock. 

In 1852, the duplicate shows 215,215 acres, subject to taxation, 
valued at $1,468,585; and a v.due of town lots amounting to 
$174,773. 

In 1871, there were 254,921 acres upon the duplicate, valued at 
$5,752,135 ; and town lots valued at $870,670. 

There are some remnants of swamp lands yet belonging to the 
county, and not yet entered upon the tax-lists. 



The following statement of the valuation of lands, and town lots, and per- 
sonal property, commenciag with the organization of the county, and closing 
with the last record, will show the progress in taxable wealth : 

In 1815— Real property $337,020 00 

Personal property 130,735 (JO 

$457,755 00 

In 1871— "Real property $6,628,805 00 

Personal property 3,0^8,615 00 

$9,717,430 00 

In 1851, the value of town lots in Upper Sandus- 
ky, amounted to $ 94,900 00 

Value of personal property 65,936 00 

$1(10,836 CO 

In 1871, their value amounted to.. $532,100 00 

Personal property 458,258 00 

""3,858 00 



The following figures exhibit the srowth in population of Wyandot County 
from 1850 to 1670, Inclusive : la 1850, 11,194 ; in 1860, 15,59(>; in 1870, 18,- 



Wyandot County — Wealthy Population^ dr. 487 



5.53. And the following t^blc will show the growtli in population of the seve- 
ral civil divisions of the county : 



tOVrSt AMD TOITNBHII'S. 



1870 



18G0 



1850 



Antrim (b) 

Crane 

Upper Sandusky. 
Crawford. 

Carey 

Edn(6) 

Jackson (r) 

Kirby (r) 

Marseilles 

Marseilles 

Mifflin (r) 

Nevada (i) 

Pitt.. 

Richland(r) 

Ridge 

Salem ('*) 

Sycamore 

Tymochtee 



1061 

387(j 

2504 

1800 

092 

1423 

■ITl 

b3o 

003 

S.'Jl 

800 

828 

yiil 

1271 

r;8t 

1103 

850 

1031 



1245 
2877 
1501) 
1020 

1247 
003 

'C93 

I'm 

'957 
1014 

583 
1070 

937 
1874 



757 
1544 

754 
1300 

'G40 
:595 

"538 

"576 

'886 
615 
501 
738 
880 

1818 



(i) Exclusive of part of village of Nevada. 

(c) In 1869, Kirby from Jackson, Mifflin, Richland, and Salem. 

The finances of the county are in a satisfactory condition — the 
))COple having been fortunate, since the organization of tlie county 
(with the exception of a siuj^lc instance, wlien a most worthy 'nit 
incompetent man held the auditor's otliee one term), in securinir the 
eervices of officers well f|ualified to discharfre their several trusts. 

The following is a list of first otlicfrs of the county, who were 
elected, the Associate Judges by the General Assembly, ami the oth- 
er county oflicers by the people, at the April election in 18;").') : 

Associate Judges — Abel Reinrich, George W. Leith, and William 
Brown; clerk, Guv C. Woith; prosecuting attorney, Chester R. 
Mott; auditor, S. M. Worth; treasunr, Abner Jury; recorder, 
John A. Morrison ; sheriff, Loren A. Pea.'^e ;'surveyor, Peter B.Beid- 
ler; commissioner;?, Steplun Fowler, Ethan Terry, and "William 
(Jrinith. 

Osias B:)wen, of Marion, was then President Judge of the Cir- 
cuit, and the only surviving member of the bench at that time, is 
George W. Lv-ith, of Nevada. The first treasurer and the first re- 
corder are dead. 

The following is a list of those wl-.o hoM Ih.o .-vcral county offi- 
ces in 1872: 

Probate judge, Peter B. BcidUr; i.io.-rii uiihg attorney, M. II. 
Kiiby; auditor, Jonathan Mallet t; treasurer, J. S. Hare; dork, Wm. 
li. Iliteheock; sheriff, Henry Myers; coroner, Lwi Sliultz ; recor- 
der, Adatn Stuts ; commissioners,' Thomas MiClain, Milton Morrcll, 



488 Wyandot County — Upper Sandushy. 



and AVm. Beam; surveyor, John Af^erter; infirmary directors, A. 
H. Vanorsdoll, Tillman Balliet, and Michael Depler. 

The town now contains seven churche? — one Catholic, one Pres- 
byterian, one Methodist Episcopal, two Lutheran, one United Breth- 
ren, and one Church of God ( or, " Winnebrenarian"). 

Two newspapers — the Wyandot Democratic Union, and the Wy- 
andot County RepuUicmi. 

One National Bank, having a capital of $100,000, and a surplus 
of 87,000, and three private banking establishments, employing an 
aggreo-ate capital of probably equal amount; one Masonic, and one 
Odd Fellows lodge; five dry goods stores; one china and glassware 
do; two jewelry do; eight grocery and provision do; three drug 
do ; five clothing do; four hardware do; three meat markets; three 
livery stables ; four millinery establishments; two sewing machine 
rooms; one produce and packing house; two grain -warehouses; 
two photograph rooms. 

The Upper Sandusky Deposit Bank is one of the three private 
establishments included above, and was established in November, 
1869, — the owner and proprietor being J. H, Anderson, who, prior 
to his location at Upper Sandusky, had established such business 
relations at Marion and elsewhere, as gave him a reputation among 
financial circles, at home and abroad, that secured for his Upper 
Sandusky banking house a public confidence which is continually 
gathering strength. 

An editorial in the Democratic Union, of February 22, 1872, thus 
refers to this gentleman: 

"He is a nalive of Marion, and commenced his business career 
there as an attorney at law. In 1861 he was appointed United 
States consul to Hamburg, Germany, where he remained until 1866, 
and then, though the post was a pleasant one, — such as few willing- 
ly relinqaish, — he resigned: his large landed and other interests here 
requiring his personal supervision. As consul, Mr. Anderson dis- 
charged his duties in such an efficient manner as to win the merited 
compliments of the department, and he acquired a vast knowledge 
of men and things. Since returning to the United States, most of 
his time has been spent here. 

" As a business man, Mr. Anderson occupies a front rank among 
his cotemporaries." 

In manufactures, there are, one woollen; three cabinet; two wag- 
on and carriage, and two wagon shops; three harness and saddlery 
do; four tailor do ; ten boot and shoe; one foundry and machine 
shop ; two tanneries ; one distillery (consuming an average of 300 
bushels of grain per day); one brewery; one tile manufactory; 
four brick yards; two planing mills, manufacturing sash, doors, 
blinds, and flooring, and three cooper shops. The P., Ft. W. and C. 
railway have also repairing shops at Upper Sandusky, which give 
employment to an average of eight hands throughout the year. 



Seneca County — Early History, d:c. 480 



SENECA COUNTY 

Was formed April 1, 1S'20, organized four years later, and naaifd 
from the Indian tribe'who had a reservation within its limits. Tho 
county was settled principally from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsyl- 
vania, ami older sections of Ohio, 

From an address maile by Isaac I. Diimond, before the Seneca 
County Pioneer Association, November, lyTO, the following extracts 
are gathered : 

"^ly lather mi«ved with h:s family to what was then called the 
New Piirehase, on the Sandusky river, in \'!^t\, at which time I was 
in my twentieth year. 

" We f )Uiid the entire county a wihlemess with no other than the 
rude improvements made by the Intliaus. 

''There was but one public road, known as a highway, in all the 
region of (ountry designated as the New Purchase, which was 
opened in the fall of iHvM), and ran on the east side of the Sandusky 
river, north and south, then known, and still continuing, as the 
.Marion State Koad. 

•'.My lather settled in Pleasant township, Seneca county, where 
lor a time we encountered many difficulties. During a |)art of the 
year, the roads were almost impassable, by reason of the mud mixed 
wiih the beech-root. During the summer, musquitocs and house- 
flies gave us a degree of trouble that none can realize, except from 
expiricnce. The flies would gather on a horse, in such (juantities, 
that a single grab would fill a man's hand. The massasaug.ir, or 
])rairie rattle snake, was another unjtleasant enemy which appeared 
in great numbers. I killed live in cutting a small j>iece of oats; but 
to my knowledge no one ever sullered from them. 

'' At that time, there were few families living along tlie entire 
route from Tymochtee (which name signifies, in the Indian language, 
' the stream around the plains') to Lower Sandusky. 

" We had few mechanics, but the one most needful was the black- 
smith, which we found in Leroy Cresey at Fort Ball. 

" Dr. lirainard was the only physician in the neighborhood, and 
his jiractice extended from Lower Sandusky, his place of residence, 
to Tymochtee. 

'• Throughout the entire settlement, there was not a lawyer to be 
found. The only minister we had was the Kev. James Montgom 
ery, of the M. K. Church. 

"Jesse and George Olmsted had otir only store between Dela- 
ware and Lower Samlusky. 

"Tiiere was considerable travel during the spring and early sum- 
mer of IS'Jl, till August, when the land sale occurred, by men in 
search of land. 

'' Our greatest privation was want of mills. Our nearest mill wa« 
at Cole Creek, about twenty-four miles distant, ami without a direct 
road leading to it. The ditBculties in some cases were very trying. 



490 Seneca County — Earhj History^ d\\ 



For example, Mr, Barney and Daniel Rice arranged for a trip to 
mill, each Avith a team of oxen and wagon. As they had to cross 
the river, the grain was hauled there and unloaded, and ferried 
across, then the wagon ferried over, and afterwards the team swam 
over, when they could reload, hitch up, and proceed. This was iu 
April, 1821. After having their grain ground, and on their homeward 
route, they Avere overtaken by a snow storm. The snow was damp, 
and fell to a depth of a foot, rendering the roads almost impassable, 
and so weighed the bushes down over them, that they were com- 
pelled to abandon their wagons, and, with much difficulty, succeeded 
in reaching home with their teams. 

" Although the year 1821 was a trying one, it had secured to 
many a sufficient amount of land to afford a home; and, to encour- 
age us, we had an abundant crop. 

•' Many of the people had acted as ' squatters.' The Indians, who 
had formerly lived on the west side of the river, had removed to 
their reservation on the east side, and abandoned their old houses, 
which were appropriated by the white settlers, and held until they 
wished to go, or were displaced by a deed from Uncle Sam, convey- 
ing the same to another party. The settlement was weak in 1821. 
and to i-aise a log cabin, the neighbors were often summoned from 
places five or six miles distant. 

" Of those who came previous to the land sale, some suffered from 
sickness, and, becoming discouraged, left, and others died, but im- 
mediately after the land sale the population steadily increased, and, 
in 1823, Mr. Rumley built a mill on Green creek, and soon after 
Mr. More built a mill on Sandusky river, in order to supply the in- 
creased demand, which greatly diminished the inconvenience we had 
all experienced. 

"The early settlers were, in the majority, rough but generous, 
whole-souled and kind towards one another, and ever ready to lend 
a helping hand to the needy. 

" The use of intoxicating drinks w^as our greatest evil. Some 
would get on sprees, and after taking much wliiskey, would form 
into a ring, and with bells, horns, tin pans, log chains, or any noisy 
instruments, engage in a hideous dance, sing and give Indian war 
whoops. Such a state of society was not the rule entirely, how- 
ever, and was wholly displaced in a short time by the ingress of 
more refined people who controlled the moral standard of the neigh- 
borhood. That enemy to civilization, whiskey, was. as is always, a 
hard one to entirely subdue, nevertheless. I remember when farm- 
ers would trade a bushel of corn for live quarts of whiskey, and 
this was as necessary for harvest as provisions. 

"In the fall of 1824, the first general muster of the militia took 
place at old Fort Seneca. The regiment numbered about 400 men, 
under General llumley, and Colonel J. B. Cooley, who gathered 
from over the country, between Cole Creek and Tymochtee, many 
having to camp out iu order to reach the fort in time. 



Seneca Counti/— Early JlUtonj^ d-c. -lOl 



" A. considerable trade was carriel on between the southern por- 
tion of the iState. after the close of the war ot 1^12, and Lower San- 
dusky, ami Saiitliisky City. Teams came loaded with flour, bacon, 
and whiskey, and returiv d with fish, or merchants' goods, which 
sold in I'rbana. Springlield, and Dayton. 

"The Indian tribes here at the time of tlie first settlement by the 
whites, were the Scnecas, Cayui:fas, Mohawks, ami Oneiilas. The 
Senccas, the most numerous, and Cayugas, oc( upied the lower part, 
and the Oneidas and Mohawks the upper part or" tlie reservation, 
Avhich was nine miles north and smth, and si.x miles cast and west, 
on the east side of San<lusky river. The land was held in joint 
stock, and each had the privilege of making such improvements as 
he wished. 

'•They numbered about GOO, and were not bad in general charac- 
ter, but friendly and kind when well treated, and not maddened by 
whiskey, for which they had a strong passion. 1 have known them 
to oiler two or three dollars worth of goods for a quart of whis- 
key, and, when intoxicated, would give any thing they possessed 
for it. 

" They depended upon hunting largely for subsistence, in which, 
when children, they commenced by shooting fish and small game 
with the bow. 

" Most of the Indians and squaws cultivated each a small piece of 
land, varying from a halt to two acres, which they formerly did with 
a hoe; but seeing us use the plow, and the amount of labor saved 
thereby, they concluded to abandon the custom of their fathers. 
Seeing two Indians i>lowing on the opposite side of the river one 
day. I crossed over, and discovered them going the wrong way over 
the land, throwing the furrows in, and next time running inside of 
it, and then another, which they thought vrry well, until I turned 
them the other way, and gave a little instruction, which they thank- 
fully received. They raised a soft corn, which they pounded into 
meal, and used to thicken soup. 

"They had much idle time which they all liked — the children 
spending it shooting, the ohl people smoking from the pipes made 
in the heads of their tomahawks, with an adjustable handle for a 
stem. They smoked the sumac leaves dried and pounded, which 
gave a pleasant odor. 

"The young Indians had a love for sports. Their chief summer 
game was ball — a game in which ten or twelve to a side engaged, 
the ground being marked off in a space of about sixty rods, the 
centre of which was the starting point. Each player liad a staff 
some five feet long, with a bow m.ade of rawhide on one end, with 
which to handle the hall, as no one was allowed to touch it with his 
hands. At the commencement the ball wns tak' n to the centre, and 
placed between two of the staffs, each pulling towards his outpost, 
when the strife began to get it beyond the outpost by every one, 
the success in which counted one for the victor, when the ball was 



492 Seneca County — Its Indian Tinhes. 



taken to the centre again, and a new contest began. The squaws 
and older Indians constituted the witnesses to these sports, and 
added zest by their cheers. 

"The favorite winter sport was running upon skates. They would 
spread a blanket on the ice, run and jump over it, each trying to 
excel in the distance he made beyond. 

"Another favorite sport was to throw upon the snow, to run at 
the greatest possible distance, snow snakes made of hickory wood, 
about five feet long, one and a half inches wide, a half inch thick, 
turned up at the point like a snake's head, and painted black. 

" The Mohawks and Oneidas had some very well educated peo- 
ple, and most of their tribes could read and write. They had reli- 
gious services every Sabbath, in the form of the Church of England, 
held by a minister of their own tribe. They were excellent sing- 
ers, and attracted the Avhites often, which pleased them much. 

" The Senecas and Cayugas were more inclined to adhere to the 
customs of their forefathers. They held in reverence many gath- 
erings. The green corn dance was prominent among them; but 
that most worthy of note was the Great Dance, which took place 
about mid-winter, and lasted three days, at the close of which they 
burned their dogs. 

" Great preparation was made for this festival. Provisions in 
great abundance were collected to constitute a common store from 
which all were fed. The two dogs were selected, often months in 
advance, well fed and made ffit. They were as near alike as possi- 
ble, and white, with yellow spots. When the time for the festival 
arrived, the dogs were killed (but in what way I never learned), 
washed clean as possible, trimmed with pink ribbons about the neck, 
each leg and toe, and about the tail. After the hair over the entire 
bodies was carefully smoothed, they were hung up by the neck to 
the arm of a post similar to a sign post, where they remained 
through the services. 

" The dance was held at the council house, built of logs about 20 
feet wide and seventy-five feet long, with three holes in the roof to 
allow the smoke to escape. At these places fires were kept burning 
during the season, over which were suspended brass kettles con- 
taining provisions. 

" At this time, strong as was their appetite for whiskey, none was 
allowed on the premises ; and any intoxicated person appearing, 
was sent ofl" at once. 

"All things being ready, their war dance began, which was par- 
ticipated in by none but those fit for the service of warriors. Blue 
Jacket led the band. Each carried a war-club in his right hand, and 
had tied to each leg a quantity of strung deer-hoofs, which rattled 
at every step. The object was to assist in keeping time to the mu- 
sic, which consisted of an Indian sing-song and the beating with a 
stick on a dry skin stretched over a hominy block. 

" When the music commenced, Blue Jacket would step out and 



Seneca County — Indian, Festivals^ Ac. 403 



move around ihe fire, cxcrtincc liimRelf to rli«|>lay nome warrior's ex- 
ploit. Ahoiit the 8eeoH(l roiin<l, others woiiM fall in. and continue 
till the rini; round the fire was full, all niovint; with their faces to 
the fire, till a ehani^e in the music, when they would turn their faces 
out. and at a dilFerent change would trail in single file, all the while 
keepin<; time to the music. 

" Wliile the Indians were thus cncra^^ed. the scjuaws formed an- 
other rini; around another fire, hut moved very slow. They would 
tip on their heels and toes alternately, and endeavor to move with 
the music. 

"At meal time all were seated with wooden bowls and ladles, 
when they were served hy those appointed, till all were B.atidied. 
Then all were quiet awaiting the next scene. Soon a rumhling noise 
at the door, in one end of the house, would start the s<|uaws and 
children to the opposite end, and the door flying open, an Itnliau 
came in wrapped in a bear or some animal skin, wearing a liideous 
false face, and carrying a dry turtle shell filled with small stones, 
which he would throw .about. This, added to his low, growling 
noise, and menacing way of head, made a frightful object. Almost 
immediately after, the door at the other end Avouhl open, and a 
similar character enter, and soon another drop from the roof, who, 
striking his hantls, })rGceedcd to throw embers and live coals in ev- 
ery direction, among the rushing crowd. After this performance, 
these demons, as they were represented to be, contested in a foot- 
race, and, at the end of the third day, they burnt their dogs. 

"Although much mirth was indulged in, there was a sort of so- 
lemnity maintained throughout the entire services.'' 



The following is a list of the enrolled merabcrshij) of the Seneca 
County Pioneer Association : 

Mrs. Ann E. Senev, born in I'ennsvlvania, and moved to Tiflin 
in 1831. 

Mrs. Nancy Ellis, born in Fairfield county, moved to Eden town- 
ship in 1K*2(). 

Mrs. Margaret Campbell, born in Marvland, and move<l to Tiffin 
in 1830. 

Mrs. Sally Gary, born in Champaign county, and moved to Fort 
Seneca in 1819. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Snook, born in Champaign county, removed to 
Tort Seneca in 1819. 

^Irs. Sarah IIuss, born in Virginia, move<l to Tiflin in 18'^r». 

Mrs. Elizabeth Kri<ller, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 
1S31. 

William Toll, born in Virginia, moved to Tiffin in \'f>'l\ ; died 
^larch 19, 1871. in Toledo, and l)iiried near Tiflin. 

Benjamin Pittenger, born in Maryland, moved to Tiffin in l^S.*). 

John Souder, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Clinton township 
in 182G. 



494 Serieca County— List of Pioneers, 



Luther A. Hall, born in New York, moved to TifBn in 1833. 

Morris P. Skinner, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Louden town- 
ship in 1833. 

Nancy M. Stevens, born in New York, moved to Tiffin in 1827. 

Daniel Cunningham, born in Maryland in 1804, and moved to 
Tiffin in 1834. 

Samuel Kridler, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1823 — 
deceased. 

Jacob Bouer, born in Maryland in 1809. moved to Seneca county 
in 1826. 

Michael Freer, born in New York, moved to Bloomfield town- 
ship in 1834. 

Christ. C. Park, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1830. 

Mrs. Jane Dawalt, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1824, 

Mrs. S. B. Baker, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Bloom town- 
ship in 1821. 

David B. King, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1830. 

Mrs. Ann E. Park, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1830. 

Polly Stewart, born in New York, moved to Eden township in 
1821. 

George L. Keating, born in Muskingum county, moved to Seneca 
county in 182.5. 

Jane Boyd, deceased, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Bloom 
township in 1822. 

Lewis Baltzell, born in Maryland, moved to Tiffin in 1829. 

xlbel Eawson, born in Massachusetts, moved to Tiffin 1826, died 
August 24, 1871. 

William Lang, born in Bavaria, Germany, and moved to Tiffin 
in 1833. 

Lorenzo Abbott, born in Massachusetts, moved to Seneca county 
in 1822. 

James Doman, born in Pennsylvania, moved to Tiffin in 1828. 

AV'illiam llaymond, born in New York, moved to Keed township 
in 1823. 

Kezin W. Shawhan, born in Virginia, moved to Tiffin in 1833. 

Elijah Musgrove, born in Virginia, moved to Scipio township in 
1824. 

James McEwan, born in Pennsvlvania, moved to Clinton town- 
ship in 1823. 

Henry Ebbert. born in Pennsylvania, moved to Clinton township 
in 1831. 

E. G. Bo we, born in Delaware, Ohio, April 5, 1818, was brought 
by his parents to Tiffin in June, and was the first white infant in the 
county, his lather, Erastns Bo we, being the first white settler in 
Seneca county, in IS 17. 

Mrs. Maria Rawson, born in Arthur, Ohio, located in Fort Ball 
in 1824. 

Inman Roby, born in Virginia, located in Seneca townsliip 1832. 



Seneca Counii/ — List of Pioneers. 495 



Levi Keller, born in Fairfield county, located in Tiffin in 1830. 

James ( liaml»erl:\iii, Lorn in iV-niisylvania, located in Senecii 
county in is:)".*. 

A. B. McCKUand, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county 
in 1880. 

Thomas R. Ellis, born in New Jersey, located in Seneca county 
in 1^:2."). 

Frederick and Eli/abeth Klshler, born in Pcnnt-ylvania, located in 
Tiffin in i8:{('. 

Joseph Ileirnc, born in rennsylvania, lucated in Clinton town- 
ship in 1^'. X. 

Samuel lleirne, born in rennsylvania, located in Cliiiton town- 
ship in 1*^ ;8. 

John Free, born in Virginia, located in Seneca county in 1823. 

Judge and Mrs. Elizabi-lh Kbbert, born in Pennsylvania, located 
iii Titlin in is;; I. 

^Ir«!. Maria Shawhan, born in ^larvland, located in Seneca county 
in isit. 

Lyman Vv'hit.c, born in New York, located in Seneca couiity in 

J)r. Ilcnry Kuhn, born in Maryland, located in Tiffin in 1827, 

Joseph Richards, born in Pennsylvania, located in Clinton town- 
ship in 182:}; died, 1871. 

Henry Davidson, born in Pickaway county, Ohio, located in Seneca 
township in 18:52. 

Jacob ^I. Zahm, born in Bavaria, Germany, located in Thompson 
township in ItSoli. 

iliron Sexton, born in Connecticut, located in Clinton township 
in 183^1. 

Hugh Welch, born in I'ennsylvania, located in Seneca county in 
1810. 

Sylvester B. Clark, born in Virginia, located in Tiffin in 1833. 

^Irs. Catharine F. Louder, born in Virginia, located in Seneca 
county in 1830. 

Nathaniel L. Spielman,born in .Maryland, located in Seneca coun- 
ty in 1830. 

John Williams, born in Fairfield county, Ohio, located in Seneca 
county in l^iil. 

Enos Cramer, born in Maryland, locate d in Seneca county in 1831. 

DeWit C. Pittenger, born in >^eneca county in 1^30. 

Mrs. Margaret Watson, born in Penubylvania, located in Seneca 
county in 1>3(). 

;Mrs. Elizabeth Dorsey, born in Peun.Hylvania, located in Seneca 
county in 183(5. 

Mrs. Hannah Herrin, born in Maryland, located in Seneca coimty 
in 183;;. 

Lewis Seewald, bora in Bavaria, Germany, located in Seucca 
county in 183:!. 



496 Beneca County — List of Pioneers. 



James H. Sohn, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county 
in 1834. 

Eobert Nichols, boi'n in Virginia, located in Eden township in 
1831. 

Arthur Morrison, born in Jefferson county, located in Clinton 
townshijD in 1831. 

Mrs. Jane Dildine, born in Pennsylvania, located in Clinton town- 
ship in LS29. 

James Griffin, born in Virginia, located in Eden township in 181^1. 

L. A. Myers, born in Perry county, located in Seneca township 
in 1831. 

Hezekiah Searles, born in Fairfield county, located in Eden town- 
ship in 1*^25. 

Eliza A. Searles, born in Pennsylvania, located in Eden tov.'nship 
in 18^5. 

R. M. C. Martin, born in Perry county, located in Eden town- 
ship in 18B0. 

Mrs. Barbara, born in Seneca county in 1831. 

Jacob Price, born in Virginia, located in Seneca county in 1822 

Mrs. Mary Price, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county 
in 1630. 

Henry H. Schocks, born in Pennsylvania, located [in Seneca 
county in 1830. 

Mrs. Margaret Schocks, born in Maryland, located in Seneca coun- 
ty in 1830. 

James S. Latham, born in Seneca county in 1828. 

Richard and Elizabeth Jacque, born New York, located in Seneca 
county in 1823. 

John Wax, born in Perry county, located in Seneca county in 
1835. 

Sarah "Wax, born in Franklin county, located in Seneca county 
In 1822. 

Jacob Hassler, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county in 
1831. 

Ann Hassler, born in Stark county, located in Seneca county in 
1834. 

Mrs. E. J. "Watson, born in "Washington county, located in Sen- 
eca county in 1845. 

Eli Winters, born in Jefferson county, located in Seneca county 
in 1836. 

Henry Guiger, born in Baden, Germany, located in Seneca coun- 
ty in 1835. 

Thomas West, born in New York, located in Seneca county in 
1822. 

George McLaughlin, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca 
county in 1825. 

Joseph Miller, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county 
in 1834, 



Seneca County — Pioneers^ Etc. 49' 



ArdiibiM Stewart, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca 
county in 18'i5. 

Weltha C. Stewart, born in \'ermont, located in Seneca county 
in 1S41>. 

William Davis, born in Pennsylvania, located in Seneca county 
in is:.*."). 



" On the 4th of October, 1809, Benajah Parker, a resident of what 
is now Fort Seneca, in Pleasant townsliip, was 8tabbe<l by an Indian 
of the Seneca nation, named Peter Pork. It appears that tin- In- 
dian, who had been drinkini;, called at Parker's house, and asked 
for whiskey. An<]cry words ensued on its being nfuseil, and whiK; 
I'arker was attempt in;jj to force the Indian out of doors, the latter 
tlrew a knife, and with a back-handed stroke, intlicted a danj^'erous 
wound in tlio side ot tlie former. Parker lingered lor several 
months and died. 

'' Peter Pork, .as soon as he had committed the deed, lleil to liis 
cabin, and {)repared to defend himself. Having i)laee<l his toma- 
hawk under his bed, and his knife in the wall at the IictI, he laid 
down to slee[». lie was a stalwart Indian — the whole tril)0 stand- 
ing in awe of him. The neighbors in the vicmity soon assembUd 
neir his house, and while asleep, they secured his tomakawk and 
knife. He was then awakened — but not until after a severe contest 
was he secured and j)laced in confinement. 

'■ On the 28th of April, 18;](), he was tried by the court of com- 
mon pleas of this county, and f mud guilty of 'stabbing with intent 
to kill.' He wiis sentenced to three years' confinement in the peui- 
t.'utiary.'' — Butterjield's History of Seneca County. 



Dr. Kiihn removed from Woodsborongh, Frederick, Maryland, in 
August, l!S27. He was the second jdiysician in Tillin, Dr. Stewart, 
who had died the year previous, having preceded him. Of all his 
old coteniporaries of the medical profession, ho is the only survivor. 
Among those who were residents of Tillin, when he removed to the 
place, were the following : 

Josiah Hedges, proprietor of the town ; Benjamin Pittonger, and 
John Pittenger, merchants; Richard Sneath and (ieorge Park, tav- 
ern keepers; Jacob Reed, John (Jalbraith, Samuid Knidier. Tiiomas 
Lovd, George Saul, (reorge D^)naldson, Solomon Kuder, Wm. Toll, 
DaVul Bishop, David Betz, Joseph Walker, John Walki-r, .laeob 
Plain (postmaster), Joseph Biggs, William Hunter, and Henry 
Cronise. 

And at Fort Ball were the following: 

Abel Rawson (lawyer); Milton McXeal (merchant); Neil Mc- 
Gaffey (county clerk) ; Dr. Eli Dresbach ; Jesse Spencer (proprietor 

'i\ 



4§8 Seneca County— Pioneers^ Etc. 



of Fort Ball) ; Elislia Smith (tavern keeper) ; David Smith (chair 
maker), and Samuel Hoagland. 

Tiffin Vv^as walled in by a dense forest, and the principal street 
(Washington) was encumbered by fallen timber, stumps, etc., to a 
degree that seriously obstructed travel. At the suggestion of Dr. 
Kuhn, a portion of one day in each week was devoted to the pur- 
pose of " uiggering" the logs, and the removal of the stumps and 
roots, so as to make a passage for teams and pedestrians. The doc- 
tor and Judge Pittenger undertook the work of opening Market 
street. Crossing the river in a canoe, the moment the bow struck 
the opposite shore, the doctor seized his axe, and, rushing partly up 
the bank, buried the blade in the trunk of a linn tree ; and, turning 
to Judge Pittenger, exclaimed : 

*' I struck the first blow in the work of clearing the west end of 
Market street ; and you will make a note of the fact." 

There being no cleared ground suitable for the burial of the dead 
the doctor devoted the larger portion of three weeks of his personal 
time to the work of clearing the timber for a cemetery. 



Among the early settlers in Tiffin, was Dr. Eli Drcsbach, a very 
young man, who had gone there to practice medicine. He was born 
m Pennsylvania, but removed, when a small boy, with his parents, 
to Pickaway county, Ohio. 

He was a pupil of the late Dr. Luckey, of Circleville, and a gradu- 
ate of the Ohio Medical College. 

Like most of the pioneers of the northwest, he had, as the best 
part of his outfit, good, industrious habits, with a full share of self- 
reliance. Unlike a vast number of the human family, he had not 
mistaken his vocation. 

Nature had fitted him for the profession of medicine, by the en- 
dowment of certain qualities deemed essential to success. He loved 
his profession, and was proud of it. All his life he was a close stu- 
dent, keeping abreast with the best men of his time. He was a 
most uncompromising enemy of quackery, in all its phases, and un- 
der all its disguises. 

His professional popularity, among all classes, was truly wonder- 
ful. It is a good thing to possess popular favor, — better still, the 
merit to deserve it. Dr. Dresbacli was fairly entitled to the honors 
of both. 

Touching this subject, we may rightfully appropriate a line from 
the " Deserted Village," and say, with the poet : 

" A man lie was to all his country clear." 

The doctor was a man of fine presence, somewhat belov/ the me- 
dium height, of robust frame inclining to corpulency, nervo-san- 
guine temperament, light blue eyes and fair complexion, a good 
talker, a most agreeable companion, and a polished gentleman. He 
was never married. 



Seneca Connty — Pioneer<<i, Etc, 4011 



His wiilespreiul rcpntjition for eminent skill, forced upon him a 
very larpe professioniil business. Finally, this constant strain of 
mind and body, for more than a quarter of a century, began to make 
serious inroads upon his health. Other causes, doubtles, contril)Uted 
to the same end. Travel and a cluuif^e of climate, it was hoped, 
Would prove beneticial ; kind, loving friends did all in their ])ower, 
but all with(Uit avail. He died Ajtril 11, 185^, at the a^c of fifty 
years. 

Dr. Dresback was fond of a good story, and used to relate many 
amusing incidents in his own life. We will give only one : 

Two neighbors. Smith and Jones we will call them, lived on oj)- 
jiMsite sides of Wolf Creek, live or six miles from town. As Mrs. 
Smith was sullVring a gn*at deal one day, it was so arranged that 
if she grew worse during the night, a signal should be given by 
blowing the horn, and thereupon Mr. .Jones would make all haste to 
fetch the doctor. IJefore midnight the signal was given, with an 
emphasis that soon aroused Jones. It was a terrible night for any 
one to be out: 

" Ah I biller chill it was, 

The owl, for all his feathers, was acold." 

An obstetric call could not be put off till morning, l)y sending a 
prescription ; so the doctor was soon in his saddle, anil, two miles out 
I'rom town, taking Mrs. Levi Creecy behind him on his horse, lu* plung- 
ed across the country, through woods and brush, and over fallen tim- 
ber. Finally, after much tribulation, the party drew up i»u the east 
bank of Wolf Creek, and began to reconnoitre. Smith had agreed 
to b • in waiting with a canoe to take them across, as tl)e water was too 
high for fording. Smith made no appearance that night, but his house 
stood in the distance dark and silent. Mrs. Smith had evidently got 
better, and the whole family were sound asleep. The party called and 
shouted till they were tired, and, alter resting awhile, repeated the 
rxpt-riment. At last, heartily disgusted and half frozen, they went 
back to their homes. 

A few nights after this, the same mellow horn might have been 
lu'ard discoursing sweet music; but this time it had no charms for 
Jones. Jones may have read the story of the shepherd boy, who 
used to cry " wolf," till nobody would believe him. The Smith fam- 
ily were left in the lurch. 

Rodolphus Dickinson settled in 182G; Abel Kawson opened a law 
office in Fort Ball in 1824. 

A. G. Pennington was a student of Mr. Rawson in 1811, and has 
since continuid practice in Tiffin — being now the senior member of 
the Seneca County bar. 

Judge Lang commenced his studio with the late Jo.-hua Seney, 
completed tlum with Oliver Cowdery. was admittrd in lNl„', and is 
the second oldest lawyer in practice ; \\. \\ Noble is the third on the 
list. 



bOO Seneca County — Pioneers ^ Mc. 



The late Anson Burlingame, for many years a member of Con- 
gress from Massachusetts, and subsequently United States Minister 
to China, and finally accredited, by the Chinese Emperor, as Em- 
bassador to represent his government at the various European 
Courts, and to the government of the United States, passed about 
eight years of his boyhood in Eden township, Seneca county, near 
the town of Melmore. His father, Joel Burlingame, was a local 
preacher of the M. E. Church, and removed to the place above-men- 
tioned in 1823. Among his day and Sunday school mates, at the 
little log school house in the neighborhood, was General William H. 
Gibson, of Tiffin. His first teacher in the day school, Mrs. Electa 
Hunter, is now a resident of Green Springs. When his father re- 
moved to Seneca county, Anson was about five years of age. He was 
regarded, in the neighborhood of his residence, as one of the most 
promising and exemplary boys, and was a general favorite. 

There are many of his kindred now residents of Seneca county. 
His father was a natural frontiersman — removing to Seneca when 
the county was sparsely settled — residing in a small log cabin — his 
means never adequate to afford himself and family any other than a 
meagre support, and finally pursued his westward course, drifting in 
advance of the tide of civilization, until he reached the shores of the 
Pacific ocean, where he died several years ago. 

Joseph Burnside, in June, 1872, had occupied the farm in Clinton 
township, about one mile southeast of Tiffin, for a period of fifty 
consecutive years — having removed to it in June, 1822. 

Messrs. Benjamin and John Pittenger, when they were engaged in 
mercantile business, had their goods transported by wagons from 
Baltimore to Tiffin. 

John Park (merchant in 1833,) established, in that early day, a 
" one price store.'' Upon receipt of a certain invoice of goods, he 
marked up a piece of calico at 37^ cents per yard, and sold a dress 
to a woman at that price. The remaining portion of this particular 
piece of goods remained upon the shelf some two years. One day a 
lady called and inquired the price, and was informed that, as the 
goods had been on the shelf so long a time, he would let her have 
what she required for 30 cents per yard. Having made the sale at 
this reduced price, he refunded to his first customer the difference 
between the two rates. 

Richard Jaque and wife, near Melrose, married in 1809, are yet 
living together. In the war of 1812-15, he was a scout in the United 
States service on the St. Lawrence river. He was born April 9, 1787, 
in Columbia, New York, and settled in Seneca county, October, 1822. 
The following are the census returns of Seneca county, for the 
decennial periods from 1830 to 1870, inclusive: 

la 1830 5,159 

In 1840 18,128 

In 1850 27,104 

In 1860 30,8G8 

In 1870 30,827 



Seneca County — Present Jlesmirces. 501 



This rcduotion in the populiition of the county, occnninpf during 
the decennial jieriod endiiij; in June, isTO, is un evidence of \\\v. 
thrift of the ar^riculturiil interests. Where a jjiven section of land 
was heretofore occupied by a half dozen families, one among the 
most successful farmers has bought out his neighbors, and the latter 
have removed to the cheaper acres of the west. This j)rocess has 
been going forward in other counties in the wealtliiest agricultural 
districts of the State, during the last twenty years. While the ten- 
dency has been to dej)opulate, it has not dimini.shed the wealth of 
the country, but the importance of the towns has been augmented, 
as the following tigures will explain : 

Tiffin— population in IHoO 2,718 

18!i0 8.9»3 

IbTO .'5.048 

The consolidated towns of Risdon anil Rome, now known ivs Fostoria, had, 

fn la'iO 077 

In IHfiO 1.027 

In 1870 1,733 

Wliile Tiflin and Fostoria have exhil)itcd a growth so remarkable, other 
towns have declined. Tliis is particularly the case with Rcpultlic, which, in 
lyoO, numbered 917 ; in IbCO, declined to 03ti, and, in 1870, to 481. 

Value of lands in Seneca county in 1871 ? 11 ,^30.840 00 

Value of chattel property 4,234,020 00 

Total |;15,8(}4,8G0 00 

In Tiffin— Value of real estate $ l,28fl,.'il4 00 

Value of chattel property 751,323 00 

Total •'? 2,037,8;!7 00 

In Fostoria (Loudon township)— Real estate f 42fl 210 00 

Chattel 477,338 00 

Total.. $" •J00,r)49 00 

In Green Springs (Adams twp.)— Real estate $ .'»7.237 00 

" " Chattel 234,024 00 

Total |2'J1,801 00 

In Republic (Scipio twp)— Real estate $ T7,126 00 

'♦ " Chattel 173,0:5100 

Total $ 250,157 00 

In AH ica( Venice twp.)-Rcal estate $ o?.ol^^ ^ 

Chattels 2^8.894 00 

Total T^314 00 

In New Riegei (Big Springs »-P ^-g^/^^'f^^J^ ;;;;■-- --/;;;/;. ♦ ^S:^Z 2S 

Total ♦ VM,\W 00 



502 Seneca County — Fremnt Resources. 



In Melmore (Eden twp.)— Real estate % 28,410 00 

" Chattels 22(i^212 00 

Total $ 354,628 00 

PUBLIC PROPERTY. 

Value of court Louse. . $30,000 00 

Value of jaiL 10,000 OO 

Value of Infirmary 75,000 00 

Total % 115,000 00 



The following is a list of county officers for 1873 : 

Wm. M. Johnson, probate judge ; Isaac Hagey, auditor; William 
Lang, treasurer; J. C. Millhime, clerk of common pleas court; 
Frank Baker, prosecuting attorney; John Wesley, sheriff; Wm. De 
Witt, recorder ; P. H. Ryan, surveyor ; H. D. Eakestraw, D. E. Ma- 
jors, and S. M. Ogden, commissioners; U. P. Coourod, Eden Tease, 
G. W. Bachman, infirmary directors. 

The public schools of Tiffin employ twenty teachers, who give 
instruction to 970 pupils, with an average daily attendance of 69 
per cent. 

The three Catholic schools have in charge the education of about 
500 pnpils. The Ursuline Convent, founded in 1862 by four nuns 
of that order from Cleveland, is under the management of an able 
corps of teachers, and possesses advantages for the accommodation 
of 100 boarding pupils. 

Heidelburg College employs six professors, and has an average 
attendance of 175 students. It is the first organized, and, as yet, 
only Collegiate Institution in northwestern Ohio, having been open- 
ed November 11, 1850, by Rev. J. H., and Rev. R. Good, of the 
German Reformed Church. 

The city also contains eleven churches, including one Episcopa- 
lian, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one German Catholic, one Irish 
Catholic, one Methodist, one Methodist Episcopal, two Reformed, 
one Lutheran, and one Albright. 

The Citizens' Hospital and Orphan Asylum is an institution situ- 
ated on a plat of forty acres, one mile from Tiffin, founded by Rev. 
J. L. Bihn, in 1868. and conducted by tlie sisters of St. Francis. 

In connection with the college is a Theological Seminary, open to 
students of all denominations, who may desire to avail themselves 
of its advantages. One hundred and five ministers have been edu- 
cated at the institution, and the average attendance is about twenty- 
five. 

The business houses of Tiffin include ten dry goods ; nine milli- 
nery and fancy goods; three clothing; six boot and shoe; one hat 
and cap ; four jeweler ; three book and stationery ; five drug ; five 
hardware; twenty-two grocery ; three tobacco and cigar; four con- 





* ^- 



^t^^wl^ )^^^ 



Seneca Countii — Charles W. Foster^ of Fostoria. 503 



fcctionary ; four furniture; throe crockicry ; three eaddlory ; four 
]ihotoKnii»h i,'allerios ; seven produce dealers, and seven holt-Is and 
boardin;^ li«)u.ie3. 

In nianufaeturinj^ industries, tliere are three foundry and mv 
cliine shops; Titlin Ajirieultural Works; Ohio Stove AVorks; Tillin 
Woollen Mills ; one cUurn and wooden ware factory ; one pump do ; 
two bent wood do; one paper b<»ard mill ; one handle factory ; two 
])lanin;!j mills, nninufacturin^^ sa^^h, doors, blinds, etc.; three carriage 
factories ; tlin e wagon do; one llax and one wool carding mill ; one 
foundry ; one tile factory ; one wood stirrup do ; one boiler do; live 
ilouring mills; three saw mills; two stove factories; two niurblc 
do; thrfie bakeries; three breweries; two distilleries; two tanneries; 
twoasheries; live cigar manufactories ; four lumber yards, and six 
lime kilns. 

The newspapers of Tiffin are well conducted, and consist of the 
Ailvcrliser, by J. M. Armstrong and J. M. Myers ; the Tribune, by 
Lockes & Blymer, and the Star, by White & Foster. 



Xext in importance to Tiffin is Fostoria, of which future city Mr. 
Charles W. Foster being the founder, a brief personal sketch of him 
is here introduced. 

Mr. Foster was born \\\ Rockfield, Worcester county, Massachu- 
setts, November 21, 1800; and, in about 1820, his father and family 
removed to western Xew York, then a sparsely settled country. On 
the 7th of June, IS'^7, at Cambridg.', Washington county, New 
York, he married Miss Laura Crocker; and, during the same year, 
removed to Seneca county, Ohio, and from thence, in October, 183".?, 
to the place now known as Fostoria ; and, jointly with his father-in- 
law, John Crocker, and his brother-in-law, Roswell Crocker, entered 
about 2,000 acres of unimproved land, in the town and neighbor- 
hood. Immediately after the arrival of the party, the town of Rome, 
in Seneca count}*, adjoining the Hancock county line, was laid out, 
and in November a store of goods was opened. The rival town of 
llisdon, located, one-half in Seneca and one-half in Hancock county, 
was platted about the same time by John Gorsuch — the town being 
named aft'^r the surveyor, Uavid Kisdon. 

In the last named town a store was established, about the same 
time with the one of Mr. Foster and his associates; but the latter 
has continued, under a modification of partnership, and commencing 
forty years ago, with a capital of two thousand dollars, and rales of 
goods the first year not exceeding three thousand dollars, and those 
chielly a barter trade — furs an<l skins being the chief medium of ex- 
change — the houjc has now a i)aid up capital of f Tr>,000, and last 
year's sales reached $130,000; and the outside business of the firm, 
including the trade in wool, grain, pork, lumber, etc., amounted, in 
cash, to over one million of dollars. 

There are few instances of business success in the ilaumee Val- 



504 Seneca County — Charles W. hosiery of Fostoria. 



ley that have been more marked, than that of Mr. Foster. With the 
exception of E. W. Shawhan, of Tiffin, there is not one of his co- 
temporaries who, in 1832, were engaged in merchandise, and now 
pursuing the business. During this long period of business life, Viv. 
Foster was never a party to a contested law-suit. He has in some 
instances been compelled to bring suit against parties removing out 
of the country, or manifesting indifference to their obligations; but 
his extensive business has been generally conducted amicably and 
satisfactorily to all with whom he has had dealings. 

Among the first enterprises of public value that seemed a neces- 
sity, was the erection of a saw and grist-mill — the mills of Tiffin 
being the nearest — and, in about 1834, Eoswell Crocker, with the 
aid of his father and brother-in-law, built a saw-mill, and in 1836 a 
grist-mill. These mills drew custom from distant settlements, and 
proved highly beneficial to the new town and country. 

The town of Risdon, after the consolidation of the two places in 
the year 1852, transferred its business activity to Eome, and the 
point now known as Fostoria, where it will have a permanent and 
prosperous abiding place. To Mr. Charles W. Foster, and to his 
son, Hon Charles Foster, and to their enterprise and foresight — af- 
fording substantial aid to every proposition which gave a reasonable 
promise of advancing ihe moral and material growth of the place — 
is this recently isolated inland town indebted for the rank it now 
holds, and for the promise of continued growth. Starting the town 
in the wilderness, with his courageous partners, and with an adjoin- 
ing rival to contest the field, there are not many who would not, du- 
ring some of these forty years that are past, have yielded a conflict 
that now, when we look back, must have appeared hopeless to one 
of less energy and Avill. 

Although having passed a life of unusual activity, and achieved a 
degree ol success rarely attending, under the circumstances, human 
effort, Mr. Foster now appears, at the age of seventy-three, in the very 
prime of vigorous manhood. 



The shipments made by G. Morgan & Co., from March 1, to Julv 
30, 1872, five months, were 3,100 barrels of eggs (220,000 dozen), 
and 2,500 firkins of butter. 

Foster, Olmsted & Co., bought, during the year ending July, 1872, 
185,000 bushels of wheat ; 300,000 pounds of wool ; 175,000 bushels 
of oats ; 50,000 bushels of corn, and 5,000 dressed hogs. And other 
parties shipped, during the same period, about 12,000 barrels of flour; 
2,000,000 feet of lumber ; 7,000 hogs, and 3,000 head of cattle and 
horses. 

Fostoria contains Presbyterian, Methodist, United Brethren, Lu- 
theran and Catholic churches ; one newspaper — the Fostoria Reviciu, 
by Mr. Jones, editor and proprietor — one bank; four hotels (the 
principal being the Hayes House, W. W. Eeed, proprietor) ; three 
general merchandise stores, which last year made sales amounting to 



Sanduslcy Count ij — Its Organization. 505 



?2G1,000 ; three provision, two jewelry, three hardware, three cloth- 
ing, one dni;;, jiiul two stove s-tores; tliree tin, three harness, four 
millinery, two dress makinp^, and two marble e8tal)lishments; two 
furniture sales rooms; two meat )nark(.-ts ; two ])hoto;^ra|)h j^'alle- 
ries, and one news d('j)ot. Also, two grist and three saw mills; one 
stave and barrel, and one tile factory; two planing mills; two foun- 
dries; four carriage, and six blacksmith shops ; one tannery; one 
ashery ; five brickyards : two boot and shoe shoits and stores, and 
four shoe shops ; two bakery and confectionery stores, and one grain 
elevator. 



SAXDU.SKY L'OL'XTY 

Was organized, according to the court record, in pursuance of an 
rfct of the (leneral Assembly of Ohio, February 12, ls2(). George 
Tod was President Judge of the Circuit, and Israel Harrington, 
David Ilarrold, and Alexander Morrison, Associate Judges. James 
Williams was appointed clerk pro frinpore ; '^whereupon," — so the 
record reads — "the shtrilf returned the venire for the grand jurors, 
and it appearing that the venire did not issue thirty days before the 
return, the array being cluxllengcd, the panel was questioned ; where- 
upon the sheriti" was ordered to select a new jury from the by^tan- 
ders, and the following persons being called, ai)peared, to wit: Jushua 
Davis, P]lisha W. Ilowland, Jonathan II. JeiDnic, William ^^(Jrrison, 
Josiah iJumery, Nicholas Whittingcr, ^^'illiam Andrews, Kuel 
Ii4jomis. James Montgomery, Calel) llice, JIol)tTt Harvey, Thomas 
Webb, Elijah Brayton, Cliarles B. Fitch, and Reuben IWistol ; where- 
upon Charles B. Fitch was appointed foreman, and took the oath 
prescribed by law; and his fellow-jurors, after taking the same oath, 
received a solemn charge from the court and retired. 

"Upon application, David Baker was appointed Inspector of the 
County of Sandusky, and entered into bonds according to law. 

"Willis E. Brown })roduced his commission as Sheriff of the 
County of Sandusky, and was sworn to execute the duties of bis of- 
fice in open court. 

" Phillip B. Hopkins is appointed clerk pro tempore.^' 

Election Notice and Poll Book of Election, August 1, 1815: 
Notice is hereby given to the riualified electors of the township of 
Lower Saiulusky, to meet at the house of Israel Harrington on the 
loth day of August, at 10 o'clock A. M., then and tliere to elect 
townshij) ('Hirers, as the law directs. Said township to comprise all 
that part of Huron county west of the 'Jlth range of Connecticut 
Reserve. 

El-I S. BAKNfM, ) ^, ...... 

Caleb Pa lm r. 



Huron, August 1, 181 j. 



CuARLEs Parker, f '"'""''' 



506 Sandusky County — Early History. 



In pursuance of the foregoing notification, the electors of Lower 
Sandusky assembled and made choice of Israel Harrington, Esq., for 
Chairman of said meeting. Elisha Harrington and Charles II. Fitch 
were chosen judges of election. Ephraim Johnston and Isaac L'^e 
were appointed clerks. 

At that election, the following officers were chosen: 

Trustees, Israel Harrington, Eandall Jerome, and Jeremiah Eve- 
rett; township clerk, Isaac__Lee; overseers of the poor, Morris A. 
Newman, and William Andrews ; fence viewers, Isaac Lee, and Wil- 
liam Ford; appraisers, Charles B. Fitch, and HenrylDubrow ; lister, 
Charles B. Fitch ; supervisors, William Andrews, and Morris A. 
Newman. 

Israel Harrington, who died in 1841, was one of the early " inn- 
keepers" at Lower Sandusky; — was a good citizen and neighbor, and 
understood how to conduct a house of entertainment. Colonel 
Eichard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, after the battle of the Thames, 
in which conflict he received a painful wound, was a guest, during 
several days, under the hospitable roof of Mr. Harrington. 

Regarding the signification of the name of the county, John H. 
James, in the American Pioneer, makes the statement following : 

"I have a note of a conversation with AVilliam Walker, at Colum- 
bus, in 1835-G, at which time he was principal chief of the Wyan- 
dots, at Upper Sandusky, in which I asked the meaning of the word 
Sandusky. He said it meant ' at the cold water,' and should be 
sounded San-doos-tee. He said it ' carried with it the force of a 
preposition.' The Upper Cold Water, and the Lower Cold Water, 
then, were descriptive Indian names, given long before the presence 
of the trader, Sowdowsky. In the vocabulary of Wyandot words, 
given by John Johnston, formerly Indian agent in Ohio, as printed 
m Archmologia Americana, vol. 1, p. 295, the word water is given, 
Sa, iindnstee, or, water within pools.'" 

The late Major B. F. Stickney, in a lecture delivered before the 
Young Men's Association of Toledo, February 28, 1845, said : 

'•'The remains of extensive works of defence are now to be seen 
near Lower Sandusky. The Wyandots have given me this account 
of them : At a period of two centuries and a half since, or more, 
all the Indians west of this point were at war with all the Indians 
east. Two availed towns were built near each other, and each was 
inhabited by those of Wyandot origin. They assumed a neutral po- 
sition, and all the Indians at war recognized that character. They 
might be called two neutral cities. All of the west might enter the 
western city, and all of the east the eastern. The inhabitants of 
one city might inform those of the other, that war parties were 
there, or had been there ; but who they were, or whence they came, 
or anything more, must not be mentioned. The war parties might 
remain there in security, taking their own time for departure. At 
the western town they suffered the warriors to burn their prisoners 
near it; but the eastern would not. An old Wyandot informed mc 



Sandud'i/ County— harhj History. r,07 



that lie recolU'ctod sceiiiij, when a boy, the remains of a cedar post, 
or stake, at which thev lormerlv bnriuil pridoners. 

" The French historians toll us that these neutral cities were in- 
habited, and their neutral cliaracter respect.d, when they first came 
here At len«'th a .luariel arose between the two cities, and one des- 
troyed the inhabitants of the other. This j.ut an end to mutn.lity. 

Tecum^eh's brother, '* the Prophet," made a visit to the >yyan. 
dots, at Lower Sanduskv, as early as 1SU<; (says IVtvr Navarre), and 
designated four of their"best women as witches, whom he appointed 
men to slay at midnight. This fearful deed would have been con- 
summated, but for the timely interference of Kev. Joseph Badger, 
missionary to the Wyandot s. 

In a mannscript memoranda of Rev. R. A. Sherrard, now in pos- 
session of Mr Buttertield, of Bucvrus. the following account is given 
of a trial at a term of the Sandusky Court of Common 1 leas: 

"When at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), the 1st of .May, 1h 4, 
I attended a term of the Court of Common Pleas of Sandusky 
county. The first case called was one brought by a Seneca In- 
dian, represented by his next friend, a fourth breed Indian, a local 
JMethodist preacher named Montgomery. The suit was brought to 
prove the identity and ownership of a pony horse which Montgom- 
ery, acting for the Seneca Indian, had replevied, having found the 
horse in the possession of a white man, living three or four miles 
west of the Seneca reservation. , , . •, .1 r 

" The Indian's statement was, that he had raised the pony from a 
colt and had been owl on a hunting excursion, near where his oppo- 
nent, the white man, lived, when his pony left him, and was making 
its way homeward, to the Seneca Reserve, when it was tak.n up l)y 
defendant. The white man claimed that he had raised the beast, 
and was its rightful owner. The plaintiff also asserted the same 

^ '"'The Indian had five witnesses of his own tribe, the testimony of 
each being directly in favor of his claim. The first of these witness- 
es was ' Old George,' the chief, a tall, portly man six feet and two 
inches in height, and a well-proportioned figure, though over seventy 
years of a-e. I frequently met his father, wh..se hair was once, it m 
said, as black and coarsens that of a horse' tail ; but when I hrst 
met him, in \^l\, his hair was as white as a sheep's wool, and he 
was said to have passed his hundiTdth year. r xr.„ v^rV 

" lie was born at or near Cayuga Lake, in the State of New \ ork, 
and was generally known as Cayuga George, the chief. His testimo- 
ny was expected 'to be corroborated by four other Indians. A ques- 
tion suggested itself to the court (Judge Kbenezer Lane being I re.s- 
ident Ju5gc of the circuit.) and attorneyn, as to the form ..f oath 
proper to be administered t.. the Indian witnesses. After M;me del b- 
iration. Judge Lane, through an interv^reter, put the que-tion to the 
chief in the following words : 



508 Sandusky County — Early History. 



" ' Do you believe that the Great Spirit will punish you, if you tell 
a lie about the horse ?' 

"George quickly replied, and with great animation in his counten- 
ance, that he would not tell a lie for any man's horse. 

'•' The Judge then ordered the witnesses to hold up their right 
hand, each, and put the test to tliem as follows : 

"'You and each of you, do solemnly promise to speak the truth, 
as you believe that the Great Spirit will punish you, if you tell a lie 
about the ownership of the horse, now in dispute between the In- 
dian and the white man ;' to which they gave their assent by a nod, 
and the exclamation ' Ugh !' 

'' The Indians were then questioned, one by one, commencing 
with George, the chief, as to what they knew concerning the pony, 
or horse, in dispute; and their averment was, that the Seneca Indian 
who claimed the horse raised him from a colt, and that he was three 
years old that spring. The four witnesses of the white claimant tes- 
titied directly the reverse of this, and swore that the white man 
had been the owner of the pony since it was a colt, had raised it, 
and that it was four years old that spring. 

" Here was a discrepancy between the witnesses of the opposing 
parties as to the age of the colt; and, in order to aid the jury in 
reconciling the conflicting testimony, the judge ordered the sheriff 
to call three men, who claimed knowledge of such matters, to ascer.- 
tain the age of a horse by examination of his teeth. 

" The sheriff selected three men who professed to be endowed with 
this gift, and who, after a careful examination of the beast's mouth, 
testified that he was of the ase sworn to by the Indian witnesses. — 
Contrary to the evidence, the jury brought in a verdict for the white 
man. 

"And thus ended that lawsuit, showing the uncertainty of the 
law. A number of white men raised fifteen dollars, and purchased 
the horse, and delivered it to the Indian, who returned to his home 
in the Reservation, consisting of forty thousand acres, situated on 
the east side of the Sandusky river, five miles above Fremont." 

And regarding the Seneca Indians, the same writer has tlie fol- 
lowing: 

"The Ohio fragment of the Seneca tribe was an off-shoot from the 
old Senecas of New York. This swarm, or colony, from the old 
line, left it more than 200 years ago, and settled on the Sandusky 
river, around where Fremont now stands, and where they resided 
from that time until they sold out their reservation to the United 
States, under the treaty made at Washington city in February, 1831, 
— James B. Gardner being the Commissioner of the General Gov- 
ernment. 

"In pursuance of this freaty, the Senecas removed to the Kesho 
river, west of the Mississippi, in the fall of 1831. Their reservation 
was sold by order of President Jackson, in the autumn of 1832. 

"At the time of the horse trial mentioned above, George, the 



Sajiflusl'i/ County — Earhj History. 509 



chief, and his father, were botli living, but ))oth liail become old, and 
fur advaiKX'd in life. George was tlie only actin;^ chit-f, ruler, or 
head man of the Seneca tribe, and was much rcsixcted, not onlv l>y 
his own raec, but by all tlie white seltli-rs who knew him, or had 
any dealings with him. His word would be taken among the white 
I)eople, by whom he was known, far bevonil many of the white pop- 
ulation of that country at that time. lie would not sulfer any thiev- 
ing person, male or female, of his own, or of any other tribe, if he 
knew it, to live among his Indians. 'J'he ])uni.shment for tluft, and 
other crimes, was 'club law' — the offiMuler being clubbed outside his 
jurisdiction; and if the culjtrit returnt-d at a future period, death 
by clubbing would be his portion. Murder, in all case.^, was punish- 
able by drath. It was a rare crime among the .S(.necas, and onlv 
occurred in drunken broils." 

"While at Lower Sandusky, in May, 1824," Mr. Sherrard contin- 
ues, " I often met (Jeorge, the chief, and his wife. She frcfjuently 
visited LowiT Sandusky, distant live mill's from her residence, and 
travelled upon her pony, using a side-saddle. The Seneca women 
generally rode upon a man's saddle, and after the custom of men, 
a leg on each side the body of the horse; but they had a neat way 
of tucking their Indian blanket around their legs, and they all wore 
leggins and moccasins. 

" One day George and his wife, on returning from Lower Sanduskv. 
called at the house of Colonel Chambers, two miles above town, 
where Mr. Sherrard boarded ; and, after being seated, George took 
out his i)ipe and tilled it with tol)acco, and commenced smoking. 
He then made enquiry of Mrs. Chambers whether she " Juid lost 
hankish, like one on neck ;'' at the same time pointing to the one 
she wore. She repbed that she had not missed any as yet. 

" ^le know you have," said George. "!Me see many on line to dry: 
Mohawk sf|uaw live 'mong us; she steal one like dat on neck; nie 
think she stole from line when dry. Next time me com**, me bring 
him. Me no 'low Indian steal : me good man ; me good in lure;" 
at the same ti'iie placing his hand over his heart. 

" Having finished this bit ofdiscourge. he and his wife left, forgetting 
the twist of tobacco from whieh he had tilled his pil>e. Sliortly after 
he was gone, Mrs. Chambers noticed the forgotten tobacco, and re- 
marked that when he came again, she would give it to him. 

"'Yes,' said I, 'and tell him you are good woman — good in hrrc.^ " 

In regard to the Indian murder, reference to which is made by 
Judge Uiggins (pp. 2b2, 2S.'{). Mr- SheiTjird gives the following 
account: 

"About the year 1825, Coonstiek, Steel and Cracked-IIoof, left the 
reservation for the double purpose of a three years' hunting and 
trajiping excursion, and to seek a location for a new home for the 
tribe in the west. At the time of their starting, Comstock. the bro- 
ther of the two lirst, was the i>rincii»al chief of the tribe. On their 
return, in 1S28, richly laden with furs and horsis, they found i^cneca 



5iO Sandusky County-^&rly History. 

John, their fourth brother, chief iu place of Comstock, who had 
died during their absence. Comstock was the favorite of the two, 
and they at once charged Seneca John with producing his death by 
witchcraft. John denied the charge in a strain of eloquence rarely 
equalled. Said he : 

" ' I loved my brother Comstock more than the green earth I stand 
upon. I would give up myself, limb by limb, piecemeal by piece- 
meal ; — I would shed my blood, drop by drop, to restore him to life.' 

" But all his protestations of innocence and affection for his broth- 
er Comstock, were of no avail. His two other brothers pronounced 
him guilty, and declared their determination to become his execu- 
tioners. John replied that he was willing to die, and only wished to 
live until next morning, to see the sun rise once more. This request 
being granted, John told them that he Avould sleep that niglit on 
Hard-Hickory's porch, which fronted the east, where they would find 
him at sunrise. He chose that place because he did not wish to be 
killed in presence of his wife, and desired that the chief, Hard- 
Hickory, witness that he died like a man. 

"Coonstick and Steel retired for the uight to an old cabin near 
by. In the morning, in company with Shane, another Indian, they 
proceeded to the house of Plard-Hickory, — who was my informant, 
— who stated that a little after sunrise he heard their footsteps on 
the porch, and he opened the door just wide enough to peep out. 
He saw John asleep upon his blanket, and they standing near him. 
At length one of them awoke him, and he immediately rose, took off 
a large handkerchief which was around his head, letting his unusu- 
ally long hair fall upon his shoulders. This being done, he looked 
around upon the landscape, and upon the rising sun, to take a fare- 
well look of a scene he was never again to behold; and then an- 
nounced to his brothers that he was ready to die. 

*' Shane and Coonstick each took him by the arm, and Steel 
^valked behind. In this way they led him about ten steps from the 
poich, when his brother, Steel, struck him with a tomahawk on the 
back of his head, and he fell to the ground, bleeding freely. Sup- 
posing the blow sufficient to kill him, they dragged him under a 
peach tree near by. In a short time he revived, however, the blow 
having been broken by his great mass of hair. Knowing that it 
was Steel who struck the blow, John, as he lay, turned his head 
towards Coonstick, and said : ' Now, brother, take your revenge !' 
This so operated on Coonstick, that he interposed to save him ; but 
the proposition enraged Steel to such a degree, that he drew his 
knife and cut John's throat from ear to ear; and the next day he 
was buried with the usual Indian ceremonies, not more than twenty 
feet from where he fell." 

The judicial basis upon which the judgment of the Court was 
rendered in the foregoing case, is clearly stated in the communica- 
tion of Judge David Higgius, already referred to. 



Sandnshj County — Early History, 511 



Mr. Sherraril has also the following in regard to the religion of 
the Iiuliuiis : 

"Here I would offer another remark from an idea which has been 
discussed in connection with this matter, — which is, that I have rea- 
son to believe that the .Seneca, as well as the Osage Indians, may 
have been sun worshippers. I reach this conclusion from the cir- 
cumstance of the willingness of Sinoca John to meet death on con- 
dition that his Ijrothcrs would let him live until morning, to see the 
sun rise one? more. 

"The reply of George, the chief, to the niissionariep, was, at all 
times, that tlieir own religion was good enough ; but what that re- 
ligion consisted in, I have no acconnt, further tium that they iiad a 
strong native belief in a (treat Spirit, that overlooked the affairs and 
actions of mankind. The Senecas have also a custom handed down 
from their ancestors, and jmints to their Jewish origin as one of the 
lost ten tribes. They have a yearly sacrifice; and for that purpose 
fatten a white dog — tor they utterly abhor and detest any olher 
color. At this sacrifice, the whole male portion of the tribe are con- 
vened. This statement I obtained from Colonel Chambers, in 18*^'4. 
who was Well acquainted with the manners and customs of the 
.Senecas.'' 



A writer in the Fremont jl/c.s\<?e w/jrer, Mr. Morris E. Tyler, commu- 
nicates to that sprightly journal the interesting reminiscences quoted 
below : 

"During tlie war of 1S12, while I). P. .Snow, who lived at Cold 
Creek (now called Castalia), was absent from home. Captain Pump- 
kin and a band of Indians captured the family of Mr. Snow, lie 
instantly killed an infant. They marched the rest towards the .San- 
dusky bay. Mrs. Snow being unable to travel, was tomahawked and 
scalped wMthin a few rods of the house. The remainder of the fam- 
ily, two Sons and one daughter, they took to their canoes. They 
then conveyed them to Detroit, which hal ix-en disgracefully sur- 
sendered by the coward, Hull, where they sold llicm to the British 
government. After this brutality on the part of Pumpkin and his 
band, he killed some of his own people, when they in revenge killed 
this Indian murderer, on the Stony Prairie, about one mile from the 
city of Fremont. 

"The Indians were in the habit of watching for the United States 
mail, which came weekly from Columbus to the forces in this part 
of the State. The Indians knew the day, and awaited the arrival 
of the mail carriers. AI)Out twenty of the redskins secreted them- 
selves behinil logs, in an oak opening, about one mile and a half 
south of Fremont, up the river. On that day, General Harrison 
sent Colonel Ball with twenty-seven dragoons to Fort Stephenson. 
On their way, they were attacked by the Indians, who were defeated 
by Colonel IJall's torec, without the loss of a single man, and the mail 
was saved from British inspection. 



512 Sandusky Cdiiniy — Early History. 



" The village and township of Ballville was named after Colonel 
Ball in honor of this achievement. 

"James Whittaker, the first Avhite man who settled here, was cap- 
tured near Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg), by the Indians, about the 
year 1778, while hunting. He was compelled to run the gauntlet, 
and was adopted by the Wyandot tribe, and was considered one of 
their people. 

" Elizabeth Fueks was the first white woman who settled in San- 
dusky county. She was captured by the Indians when she was about 
eleven years old, at Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, about the year 
1780, and was adopted by the Wyandot Indians as one of their 
tribe. She was married to James Whittaker, at Detroit. They set- 
tled here at a very early day. Mr. Whittaker was an Indian trader. 
lie died in 1800, at Upper Sandusky, after partaking with his part- 
ner, Hugh Patterson, a glass of wine which, it is supposed, con- 
tained poison, as he died very suddenly after taking it. 

"At the close of the war, the following named settlers were 
living: Jeremiah Everett (father of Homer Everett). Israel Har- 
rington, Morris A. Newman (father of the wife of Judge Knapp), 
James Nugin, and David Gallagher, who was then commissary at 
Fort Stephenson. 

"Judge Isaac Knapp carried the mail a portion of t^at year, from 
Fort Stephenson to Fort Meigs (now Perrysburg). At that time, 
there was no road, and he was guided by blazes or spots made on 
the trees by hewing with a hatchet. The route travelled was a dan- 
gerous one. They started from Fremont, went down the river to 
IMuskalonge creek, thence west about one mile, where they crossed 
the creek by fording ; thence to Portage river which they crossed, 
Avhere Elmore is now situated ; from there by a circuitous route to 
Fort Meigs. 

" In those days the mall carriers were men of courage and deter- 
mination, as the Indians and wolves were opposed to the adyance- 
ment of our system of civilization. 

" Fort Stephenson was built upon the ground now occupied by 
Lewis Leppelman and Dr. W. B. Ames, for residences. The fort 
was within the square formed by Arch, Garrison, High, and Cro- 
ghan streets. The fort was built of pickets twelve feet high above 
the ground, and the line surrounded by a ditch nine feet Avide and 
six feet deep. The earth from this ditch was thrown up against the 
pickets. Within the fort were three rude structures, used by the 
garrison for storehouses. It was built for a garrison of 200. On 
the west side of the fort, the ditch was situated on the north side of 
High, and about the centre of Croghan street. 

" Before the war of 1812, there was a large town built by the 
Muncie Indians, which was called Muncie village. It was situated 
several miles below Fremont, on the Sandusky river, on what is 
known as the Neil lands, at a point where a rivulet enters the river, 



Sandualci/ Count 1/ — First Preacher. 513 



a few rods above a house now occupied by a man named Harrison. 
This village M'as destroyed in the war of isr^>. 

"Kev. .loscph liadger was the iirst man who preached the gospel 
in Sandusky county. In the year ISOO, tlie Missionary Societies of 
the Eastern States di sired to send missionaries to the Indians in the 
northern part of Oliio. At their instance, he came here and resided 
among the Wyandots and other tribes of Indians. The same year 
he returned to lilandl'ord, J^Iassaciiusetts, and afterwards returned 
to Ohio, and settled on the Western Keserve. IJefore the war of 
1812, his labors were divided between the Western Keserve and the 
country bordering on the Sandusky and Maumee rivers. In lsi2, 
he was api)ointe(l chapliin by Governor Meigs, was in Fort Meigs 
during the siege ot isi:}, and through the war was attached to Gen- 
eral Harrison's command. He died in Wood county in 1<S4G." 



The following sketch of the first Court House at Lower Sandus- 
ky, is from the pen of Homer Evefelt: 

" The first Court House in Lower Sandusky, was erected between 
the month of July and the last day of December, on the site near 
the jiresent residence of Hon. K. 1*. Buckland. The frame was then 
put up and covered, but not finished. The whole surrounding was 
then densely covered with thick oak trees. It was away out in the 
woods. A. year or two afterwards, this frame was moved on rollers 
to the top ot the hill, on the lots now occupied by Uev. II. Lang, 
and constitutes his residence. From sometime about the year 1825 
or 182<), to 1840. this building was called the Court House, when 
our present one was completed. 

"The first one was built by subscription ; the location was warmly 
contended for by the east and west sides, each making the best offer 
it was able to perform. The subscri))tion signed by the inhabitants 
west of the river, is dated August 1, l^^o, and is (piitc indicative of 
the state of things in a monetary and ])ecuniary point ot view. The 
list embraces ibur columns, one for the amount of cash, one for the 
amount of labor, one lor the amount of proiluce. and one lor the 
amount of material subscribed. Out of the thirty-three signers, 
only fifteen subscribed money, and the total amount of caph raised 
was only 8'2.'55. The remainder of the 81.^00, which was the total 
of the subscription, was signed material, labor, and jn'oduce. 

"The building was first let to Cyrus Hulburt, who failed to fulhll 
his contract, and afterwards let to Thomas L. Hawkins, for ij^^.tOO, 
the County Commissioners paying six hundn-d dollars in orders on 
the Treasury." 

Tiie act of March 12, 1>^2(), established the county seat at Cro- 
ghansville ; but Commissioners ap|)ointi'd by the General A-senibly 
to review the location, in 1S22, established it on the west side of the 
river, where it has since remained. 

33 



514 Sandusky County — Pioneers^ &g. 



The fifty-ninth anniversary of Croghan's defence of Fort Stephen- 
son was celebrated at Fremont, on Friday, August 2, 1872, by a 
large concourse of old residents of the Maumee Valley. The Fre- 
mont Democratic Messenger, August 8, 1872, concludes a notice of 
the celebration as follows : 

" The victory of Croghan and his brave band of heroes, gave 
prominence to this place ; to Ohio, a glorious page in history ; to 
Croghan and his determined supporters, imperishable honors, and 
lustre to the American arms. 

"Well may our people honor and cherish, in grateful remem- 
brance, the brave and heroic defenders of Fort vStephenson," 

Isaac Knapp located at Fort Stephenson in September, 1814. 
None who were then citizens of the place, survive him. 

The pickets of the Fort, and the two large block houses, situated 
on the south line of the enclosure ; the sentry-box on the southeast 
corner ; the magazine in the northwest corner, and a large block 
house projecting over the picket line, and designed to cover the 
ditches, were then in good condition of preservation. 

About ninety to one hundred men, under command of Captain 
Gest, garrisoned the post. The fort was evacuated in May or June. 
1815. Lieutenants Thomas L. Hawkins, and Thomas E. Boswell, 
after the evacuation, remained at the fort, and made the place their 
permanent home. Morris A. Newman, Irom Norwalk, was military 
postmaster, and kept a small store. Israel Harrington was a tav- 
ern-keeper; and Messrs. Disborough and Wilson, who, in 181S, 
built a schooner for the lake trade, were also here. And so was 
Jeremiah Everett, and Josiah Rumsey — the last named building 
the schooner General Brown, in 1819. There were, also, in 1814, 
several French families — among them Thomas DeMasque, Joseph 
and Baptiste Momeny, and a Mr. LaPoint. There was also a Mr. 
Loomis, a Mr. Crossett, and Major Stoddard, an old man without a 
family, and Moses Nichols, who afterwards erected a tannery. — 
George Shannon had resided in the neighborhood of Fort Stephen- 
son before the war, and married one of the daughters of the well- 
known Whitakers, but fled after the war broke out, and returned 
after Perry's victory. 

Lysander Ball located in the neighborhood in 1818; and during 
the same yeai-, Thomas Holcomb, and Samuel Hollinshead, the lat- 
ter now of Port Clinton. 

In early life, Isaac Knapp exhibited several instancesiof the highest 
order of moral courage, and which have few parallels. In addition 
to his military service in the war of 1812, he served, after he had 
many years passed the " military age"' of life, in the war with Mex- 
ico, in 1846-47; and in civil life was a member of the Ohio Legis- 
lature, Associate Judge, etc. 

John S. Tyler was one of the pioneers of the county. His death, 
which occurred January 12, 1873, was noticed in the Fremont Mes- 
senger, as follows : 







^ /^< 



Sandashy Count y — />/•. L. (^. liawson. 



bio 



" Mr. Tyler was born in Cayuga county, New York, on the 25th 
(lay of Doecmbcr. 1803. lie came to this city with his father's fam- 
ily from Detroit, .Michif:;an, in lM(i, and at time of his i'ather's death 
had been a resident of this city for tifty-seven years, lie was en- 
gaijed in mercantile bu.sincss in Ficmont and Elmore for a numljcr 
of year.s. lie was highly esteenietl by all our |)eoi»le as a good citi- 
zen, neighbor and friend. His family were all j>r« sent at his bed- 
side. His remains, on Tuesday afternoon, were followed by a num- 
ber of our early srttler?, and a large number of mourning friends, 
to their iinal resting place in Oakwood cemetery." 



\ni. L. (,>. KAWSOX. 

Thr'.'e brothers, each distinguished in his sphere of lift", have left 
their impress upon the early history of northwestern Ohio. The 
late Abel Ivawson, Esq., of Tiflin, hitherto mentioned, was one of 
the oldest and most prominent members of the northwestern Ohio 
bar. Previous to his removal to Ohio, in 182-i, he was admitted as 
a lawyer in his native State, Massachusetts; and at the August term 
of the Supreme Court, in 1825, to the Ohio bar, and established him- 
self in practice at Fort Ball, then a rival of Tilhn, but now forming 
a part of that city. 

Mr. Ivawson closed his long and useful life on the :i4th of Au- 
gust, 1871. 

Dr. L. Q. Rawson, a younger brother of the above mentioned, 
was born September 14, 1804. 'J'he ])lace of his birth, although 
within the established boundaries of a State, was in a j)lace so barren 
and inhospitable, that it was not embraced within any civil jurisdic- 
tion. The locality was known as " Irvin's grant," and was situated 
between the towns of Warwick and Wendall, in Franklin Co., Mass., 
and was so rough, rocky, and worthless, that neither of the adjacent 
towns would consent to extend over it the protection of municipal 
law. Hence, the doctor lacetiously remarks, when approached touch- 
ing the place of his birth, that he "was not born anywhere."' The 
locality has since, however, achieved the dignity of a lawful birth, 
and organized as a town called Irvin. 

When the doctor was yet a boy, three or four years old, his father 
and family removed to New Salem, now Orange, Franklin county. 
.Massachusetts, where he remained until he bade adieu to his friends 
and native State, in 3Iarch, 1824, and came to Ohio. He passed 
Home time in the counties of Geauga, Summit, and ^luskingum, 
pursuing medical studies, until July, 1^20, when, having received a 
license from the Ohio Medical Society, he engaged in the practice 
of his profession, at Tyamochtee, then Crawford county, and in De- 
cember, 1827, removed to his present residence, Fremont, Ohio. 
He attended medical lectures, and received the degree of M. D. 



516 Sanduslcj County — Dr. L. Q. Haw son. 



from the Ohio Medical College, and the University of Pennsylva- 
nia, and continued in active practice until 1855. 

On the 8th of July, 1829, the doctor married Miss Sophia Beau- 
grand, daughter of John B, Beaugrand, one of the early Indian tra- 
ders at Mauraee City, and who was engaged in business at that 
place on the occurrence of the war of 1812. 

When he commenced practice in Lower Sandusky, in 1837, tlie 
tAvo physicians in the place were Drs. Brainard and Hastings. He 
has survived many years his professional cotemporaries, and is now, 
at the age of G8, in full health and vigor. The general limit to his 
practice was west to the Portage river, from the source of that 
stream to its entrance into the buy at Port Clinton; on the east, 
Clyde, and on the south to Fort Seneca. None of the intervening 
streams, crossed by these several routes, were then bridged, except 
the river at Lower Sandusky. The inhabitants were generally poor; 
and even those in comparatively comfortable circumstances, and dis- 
posed to pay, had little money, and oftered produce in liquidation of 
their physicians' bills. 

In 18o4, the cholera scourge prevailed at Lower Sandusky. The 
people generally, at that time, regarded the disease as contagious, and 
the mass of them locked their doors, and refused to leave their 
houses, or admit visitors. Drs. Kawsonand Brown, Mr. Birchard, and 
Judge Ilulbert, discharged the several offices of physician, nurse, and 
undertaker. The population of the town then amounted to about 
three hundred, and the per cent, of deaths Avas large. This was the 
first year of the visitation of the cholera, and on no occasion of its 
subsequent appearance at Lower Sandusky, has the disease been 
attended with results so fatal. 

From 1836 to 1851, he was clerk of the court — his professional 
business, however, rendering it necessary that the principal charge 
of the office be confided to a deputy. 

The Louisville and Lake Erie liailway, with which the name of 
Dr. Rawson is so closely identified, was incorporated April 25, 1853 
— Charles W. Foster, L. Q. Rawson, Sardis Birchard, James Jus- 
tice, and John R. Pease, being the corporators. The Company was 
organized on a capital of $200,000. 

The purpose was, " the construction of a railroad from the town 
of Fremont, in the county of Sandusky, through the counties of 
Sandusky and Seneca, to the town of Rome, in said county of Sen- 
eca; thence through the counties of Seneca and Hancock, to the 
town of Findlay, m said county of Hancock ; thence through the 
counties of Hancock, Allen, Auglaize, Mercer, and Darke, to the 
west line of the State of Ohio, in said county of Darke." 

In 1855, he made an effort to withdraw from professional busi- 
ness, and engage in railroad enterprises ; and, co-operating with Mr. 
C. VV. Foster, of Fostoria, was among the original projectors of the 
Lake Erie and Louisville railroad, and, to their united energies and 
labors, the country interested in that important work is unquestion- 






^ 






A^^^/i^ 



■Y-. 



r^^^ 



Sandmk'ij Count ij-Sardis Birchard. 



ably indebted for the propfress it hns made, and for the prospects of 
its early completion. Since his effort to relieve himself of medical 
practice, ho has devoted his energies to the work of enlistint^ capi- 
tal and local aid in behalf of this road. At the iirst orixanization of 
the company, in IS."):}, he was el ct^d Director and I'resid nt, and 
has mainlaine<l, uninterruptedly, these relations down to the present 
time — having, in fact, tho general management of all the interests 
of the road. 

Dr. Bass IJawson. the thir<l brother, removed to Findlay in S^])- 
tember, 18;2'.), and has continued uninterruptedly and successfully 
the practice of his jjrufession in that ])lace. lie is one of the oldest 
and most honored citizens of that city. 



SARDIS BIRCHARD. 

Sardis Birchard, of Fremont. Sandusky county, was born in Wil- 
mington, Windham county, Vermont, January lo, l.sOl. He lost 
both his parents, while [yet a child. His f itlier, Kou'er Birchard, 
died in 1S().">; and his mother, Drusilla Austin Birchard, in Isl;!. 
Both of his grandfathers weie revolutionary soldiers. His gramlfa- 
ther, Elias Birchard, died of disease contracted in the service near 
the close of the war. Jlis grandfather, Captain Daniel Austin, serv- 
ed as an otHcer under Washington throughout the war, and survivctl 
many years. The Birchards were among the lirst settlers of Nor- 
wich, Connecticut. 

When his mother died, five children survived her, of whom the 
subject of this sketch, Sardis, was the youngest. He was placed in 
charge of his sister, Sophia, who hail married Kutherford Hayes; 
became one of their family, and lived with them at Dummerston, 
Vermont, until 1-^17, when he accompanied them in their emigra 
tion to Ohio. 

In Vermont, young Hirchard ac'iuired the rudiments of an Eng- 
lish education, by an irregular attendance at such schools as were in 
existence at that day in the country towns of \'ermont; became an 
e.vpert hunter and horseman for a boy of his age, and gained some 
knowledL,'e of business in the store ol his brother-in-law, Mr. Hayes. 

In Ohio, he worked with his brother-in-law in building, larming. 
driving, and taking care of stock, aii<l employing all his s|)are hours 
in huniing. He was able, with his rille, to supjily his own and other 
fLimilics with turkeys and venison. 

In lS"i:*, his broihcr-in law, Mr. Hayes, died, leaving a widow and 
three young children, and a large unsettled business. ^Ir. B, who 
was b.irely twenty-one years old, at once assumed the duties of the 
head of the lamily, and' applied himself diligently to the manage- 
ment of the unsettled affairs of his brother-in-law's estate, and to 
the care of his household. 

Inl-.critin^ from his father what was then coasidcied a bandsomo 



518 Sandusky County — Sarclis Birchard. 



start for a young man, with a jovial and friendly disposition, fond 
ol wild sports and wild company, with no one to look up to as enti- 
tled to control or advise him, his future might well be regarded 
with apprehension. He was then a slender, delicate, handsome 
youth, with engaging and popular manners, and a favorite among 
the young people of the new country. Warmly attached to his sis- 
ter and her children, he devoted himself to them nnd their interests, 
and was the main stay of the family. 

While yet a boy, he was hired to help drive hogs to feed the first 
settlers at Fort Ball, now Tiffin, in 1817. The men in charge were 
hard drinkers, and, soon after leaving Delaware, the whole business 
depended on Birchard. It was in the bitterly cold -weather of early 
winter; the roads and streams were impassable; but with an energy 
and spirit which delighted his employers, he pushed through to the 
Tymochtee, where he was met by a party of settlers at Fort Ball, 
to whom he safely delivered the drove of hogs. This was ]\lr. 
Birchard's first visit to the Sandusky region. 

He first visited his future home, Fremont, then Lower Sandusky, 
in September, 1834. His companion was Benjamin Powers, for 
many years past a respectable citizen and successful merchant and 
banker of Delaware, Ohio. The young men traveled in a one-horse 
spring wagon, and their outfit consisted of a little extra clothing, 
and a jug of fine brandy. The then universal custom of the coun- 
try for friends and acquaintances, on meeting, to drink together, 
made tlie brandy a by no means insignificant part of their supplies. 

At Fort Ball they met Erastus Bowe, and other friends, formerly 
of Delaware, and had a jolly meeting, in which the brandy was not 
altogether neglected. At Lower Sandusky, they stopped at Lea- 
son's tavern, a log house on the east side of Front street, where 
Shomos' block now^ stands. The pickets were still standing around 
Fort Stephenson, and the ditch was qnite perfect. The village then 
contained perhaps two hundred inhabitants. There was another 
tavern know^n as the Harrington tavern, and kept by Annie Wil- 
liams, standing where Leppeiman's store now is. 

The young men made the acquaintance of George Olmsted, Ellsha 
W. Howland, and others. They left for Portland, now Sandusky 
City, crossing the river at the '' Old Ford," between Avhat are now 
Garrison and Croghan streets, in Fremont. After his return home, 
Mr. Birchard, with Stephen li. Bennett as a partner, bought and 
drove to Baltimore, in the first cold weather of the winter of 1821- 
2.1, a large drove of fat hogs. There were two incidents of this trip 
which are well remembered. 

The young men had to swim their hogs across tlie Ohio river, at 
Wheeling, and came r.ear losing them all by the swift current of the 
river. By great exertions, and at considerable risk to themselves, 
they got all but four or five safely across. In the meantime, they 
were overtaken on the road by a tall, fine looking gentleman on 
horseback, who had also a carriage drawn by four horses, and twQ 



Sandushj County — Sardh'^ Birdhard. 510 



other saddle-horscR with attendants. The ijentleman helped Mr. 
Birchiirdget tliehoiisout of tlie way, clialtt'il with him about the state 
of the market, and the prospects of the weather, and advised liim as 
to the best way to dispose of his hogs at JJaltimore. 'I'his gentle- 
man turned out to he General Jackson, on his way to Washington, 
aiter the Presidential election of IS'-J 1, in which lie was the highest, 
hut not finally the successful candidate. 

In the summer of isii"), while mowing in the hay-field, lie was seri- 
ously injured in health by over-exertion. From the etlects of this, he 
never entirely recovered, but has remained in itJipaireil health ever 
since. In the winter of ]S2.")-U0, he was confined to his bed with 
an attack called consumption, and it was supposed he would not live 
till spring. He however talked hopei'ully of his condition, ami 
spoke of a horseback trip to \'ermont. One day, while yet confined 
to Ids bed, he heard two men, who were at work finishing the room 
below him, talking of his case. One of them said : 

'• It is strange how Birchard is deceived, lie tliinks of making a 
long journey, soon ; but the only journey he'll ever make, is when 
he leaves this house, feet foremost, lor the graveyard.*' 

But the cheerful dis])osition of Mr. B., ai<led by the elasticity of 
his constitution, carried him through. In May he set out on horse- 
back, making short day's journeys at first, and reached \'ermont, 
where he remained until the approach of winter, when he travelled 
south to Georgia, and remained until the spring of 1^:20. 

This year he made his first purchase of goods, as a retail dry 
goods merchant. He went to New York without money and with- 
out ac([uaintances. Passing about the streets, he fell into conver- 
sation with a young merchant, a stranger to him, named William P. 
Dixon, standing at the store door ot Amos Palmer & Co., on the 
corner of Pearl street and Maiden Lane. He told the New Yorker 
his ])lans and his condition ; when the latter told him he would sell 
him all tlie goods he wanted in his line, and would recommend him 
to others. His stock was made uj) and shipped to Cleveland, he 
accompanying the goods. His intention was to sell to laV)orers on 
the Ohio Canal, which was then being built from Cleveland south- 
wardly. Alter passing down the canal into the Tuscarawas valley, 
he became di-salisfied with that trade, and sold part of his goods in 
bulk to another tr.ader, and took ihe rest to Fort Ball (now Tifiin), 
on the west side ot San<lusky river. 

Here he remaine<l, trading successfully willi the new settlers, 
until December, IS-JV. when he removed to Lower Sandusky — liav- 
ing decidetl to go with Dr. L. C^ Kawson, who ]irecede<l him a \'c\v 
days. He was first in Lower Sandu'^ky in business alone, in a store 
on tlie corner of Front an I Croghan streets, where Betts' bhu-k now 
is; the store being a new one. and erected and owne<l by Kichard 
Sears, who had ma<le a fortune trading with the Indians, and who 
had left for Bufialo that year, in the spring. Three other stores 
were, one very large one. by lieorge Olmsted, on Front street, east 



520 Sandusky County — Sardis Bir chard. 



side, between Garrison and Croghan, where HefFner now is — a frame 
two-story building. George was the earliest merchant in the place, 
who came with his brother, Jesse, from New York city in 1817, and 
established one of the largest stores in the State. 

Their first store was on Front street, west side, north end of 
town, where Gasdorf 's packing house now is. Boats came up the 
river, nearly to this store. Jesse S. had a store on the west side of 
Front street, directly opposite to Birchard's. Esbon Husted's store 
was in a large frame building, on the southeast corner of Front and 
State streets, where the Birchard block now stands. 

Dry goods, groceries, hardware, crockery, salt, drugs, and school, 
and a few other books, stationery, whiskey, brandy, rum, wines, etc., 
were among the staple goods. 

There Avere two distilleries — one owned by Ezra Williams, just at 
the foot "of the hill, south of the pike, east of Thompson's; and 
the other owned by Sanford Main, at the Tyler spring. The mer- 
chants generally sold their goods for corn, and sold the corn for 
whiskey, which they shipped to Buffalo and New York. For cloth- 
ing, broadcloths, Kentucky jeans, and linsey Avoolsey goods were 
generally in use. The Indians bought tine blue cloth, Mackinaw 
blankets, beads, and powder and lead. 

Mr. Birchard received the Indian trade to a large extent, by refu- 
sing to sell them liquor. He was in trade throe or four years, and 
having: accumulated ten thousand dollars, considered himself rich 
enough to retire. About ] 831, however, he formed his first part- 
nership with Rodolphus Dickinson, and Esbon Hnsted — Mr. B. fur- 
nishing the capital. The firm name was R. Dickinson & Co.; and 
they soon had in operation one of the largest retail stores north of 
Columbus, and west of Cleveland, their yearly sales amounting to 
fifty thousand dollars. 

Sales were largely on credit. lie bought the first vessel with 
Richard Sears, each owning an equal interest. The vessel was 
named " John Richards," a schooner worth ihcn four thousand dol- 
lars, and about one hundred tons burden. 

The first shipment of wheat, out of Lower Sandusky, according 
to the best of Mr. B.'s recollection, was made on this schooner; and 
this shipment was probably the first sent eastward from any lake 
port Avest of Cleveland. The wheat from the ridges of Seneca 
county was then much sought after for starch manufacture. Wheat 
was then worth about fifty cents a bushel. 

The Indians, with whom Mr. Birchard traded chiefly, were the 
Senecas. They drew an annuity from the State of New York, pay- 
able at Albany, amounting to $1,700; and among Mr. B.'s custom- 
ers, whom he trusted, during the year, were Tall Chief, Hard-Hick- 
ory, Seneca John, Curley-Eye, Good-Hunter, and others ; and be- 
fore the annuity was paid, he Avould get authority to draw the 
money, signed by the chiefs, and go to Albany after it. This ho 
did threo times, and ouce had trouble in obtaining it — tho agent refn-> 



Sandushy Count}/ — SardiH Birchard. 



«ina; to pay money, nnd ofTcrini; barter. Tliis was in Silas "Writrlit's 
time. The ajjent belonged to th" Albany Ifegency, an<l Mr. li. 
called upon Comptroller Wright, to ask him to int«'rpose in his 
favor; but the Comptroller treatctl his ai)plicatioti rather coolly. — 
Horace Meacham, a friend of H.s, ami a forwarding merchant at 
Albany, went with him to the ComptrolU-r a^'ain. Wright was 
<|uite a diti'erent man ; ami soon alter ^Ir. IJ.'s ntiirn homo, lii» 
iriend Meacham forAvarded him the cash. 

Jiesides the Seneca tribe, Mr. li. trailed somewhat with the Wy- 
andots, and Oltawas. Among the Wyandots were a lew Dcla- 
wares. The Senecas owntd a reservation, containing perhaps lorty 
thousand acres, cast of the Sandusky river, on the line of Sandusky 
and Seneca counties. Their jirincipal settlement was near (^rcen 
Springs. Tbey had a mill near where Stoner's mill now stands. Their 
Council House was near the same })lace. 

Mr. B. attended several ot their dances in the daytime, and at 
night. He was present at the ceremony of buiiiir.g the white dog«. 
The Indians danced in the Council House, in the centre of which 
was a tire, over which was boiling a pot of corn and meat. Their 
musicians hail in their hands bundles of deer hoofs, which they rat- 
tled and pounded on a skin stretched over a hoop. Mr. !>., Kodol- 
plins Dickinson, Judge Justice, ^Ir. Fifield, and others, joined in the 
Indian dance. ^Ir. B. was the guest, at night, of Hard-Hickory — 
They called him Ansequago, and told him that it meant "the man 
who owns most of the land"' — the significance of which .Mr. 15. could 
not understand, as, at that time, he was not the owner of much land. 
The Wyandots, and a few Delawares, were at Upper Sandusky, 
where they had twelve miles square. The Ottawas — " 'Tawas" — 
were on the Maumec, near the mouth ot that river, and occasionally 
visited Lower Sandusky, in small squads. 

He remembers well the death of Seneca John, mentioned in 
Howes Historical Collections of Ohio (p. l.")!!), and also by Judge Hig- 
gins, in this volume ^p. H^'l). -c * v : Scne»-a 

John was a tall, noble looking man, said fo look very much like 
Henry Clay. He was always a ])U'asant, chi erlid man, and almost 
alway.s wore a smile. He was called the most eloquent sjieaker of 
his tribe. If tlicre was anger, or ill-feeliiig in tin- council, ho could 
always restore harmony. He was ])articularly admired by the 
squaws, and fond of buying gifts for them. Ho traded much with 
]^Ir. B., and on the evening before the morning of his death, was at 
Mr. B.s store. The whole tribe .«eemtd to be in town. Stool and 
Coonstick, half brothers of Seneca John, wore jealous of his ])owcr. 
^Ir. B, knew all tho parties, and remembers well. when, on the last 
evening of his life, and above referred to, he bade Mr. B. goodbye. 
They stood together on the platform, in front oi Mr. B.s Ptoro, as 
the Indians went otf south on their horses. Hu lookoil at them, as 
they moved olf. with such ^adncps in his face that it attracted Mr. 
li.'i allcntion, who wondered at his letting them all go otT without 



522 Sandushy County — Sardis Bir chard. 



him. Then he turned to Mr. B., and inquired the amount of his in- 
debtedness. They went back together into the store, and passed 
behind the counter to the desk. The account was tigured up, and 
the amount stated to John. Saying something about paying it, he 
bade Mr. B. good-bye, and went oft"— making no reference to his 
trouble. 

Hard-Hickory lived about a mile below Green Springs, in a cabin 
yet standing, and Seneca John, the night before his execution, slept 
under Hard-Hickory's porch. Steel and Coonstick, at simrise, called 
and waked him. John told them to kill him quick. They toma- 
hawked him. Mr. B. obtained this statement Irom Hard-Hickory, 
who came into town that day, or the next, with Tall Chief, and told 
about it. 

Tall Chief could not talk English well. Mr. B.'s clerk, Obed 
Dickinson, could talk better Indian than himself, and he asked Obed 
to inquire of Tall Chief if he was willing that Steel and Coonstick 
should be arrested? Tall Chief thought it Avas a great crime, and 
he was understood to say '"' yes;" but when they were arrested, Tall 
Chief did all he could to defend them. Tall Chief was a man of 
great dignity of manner and character. 

Mr. B. found the Indians, in their business transactions, generally 
very honest. They would not steal as much as the same number of 
whites, with the same opportunities. He has had his store room full 
of Indians, sleeping all night on the floor, with no watch or guard, 
and sleeping in a cot near by them. 

Tall Chief always settled the debts of the Indians who died — be- 
lieving that " they couldn't enter the good hunting grounds of the 
spirit-land, until their debts were paid." He settled the bills of 
Seneca John, after the death of the latter. 

The Indians paid for goods mostly in deer-skins, finely dressed, 
and in coon, muskrat, and sometimes in mink, otter, and bear skins. 
The Indians dressed skins much better thnn white men. 

In 1835, Esbon Husted died, and his place in Mr, Birchard's liim 
was taken by George Grant, who had been a clerk in the establish- 
ment, since the formation of the firm. In 1841, Mr. Grant died, 
and the firm was dissolved ; the business being settled by Mr. 
Birchard. 

liodolphus Dickinson was an educated man, being a college grad- 
uate, and having a good knowledge of the law, which profession he 
studied under the Late Judge Gustavus Swan, in Columbus. Had 
he given attention to law practice, he would have been successful; 
l)ut he was active in the politics of his time, — thrice elected a mem- 
ber of the Board of Public Works, and twice elected to Congress, 
nnd died while a member of the House of Kepi'csentative of the 
United States, in 1849. Mr. Grant was a man of great business capac- 
ity and energy, wdio died young, aged only o2. He was atall, slender 
man, of fine address, and full of life and ambition. 

On the first of January, 1851, Mr. B., in partnership v.'ith Lucius 



Satiduskfj County — Sardis Birchard. rj23 



V>. Otis, I'stablislied tlio first bankinij linuso in Fromont, under llio 
name of Hircliard & Otis. On tlio removal ol' Judge Otis to Chi- 
cago, in l^fjC*, Mr. li. Inriued a ])artner.'ihii) 'willi Anson II Milk-r, 
and Dr. Januvs W. ^Vilson, under the name ot" JJirehard, Miller tfc 
Co. In ],'>0;{, the l-'irst National Hank of Fremont was orgaui/.e<l, 
and the l)ankiiig house of i;irchar(l, Miller it Co. -was merged into 
it. It ^va8 the second Natiotiul Bank organized in Ohio, ami the 
liftli organized in the United States. Mr. Birchard was elected 
President of the Bank, on its organization, and yet holds the posi- 
tion. 

There were two lawyers in practice in Lower Sandusky, when 
Mr. Birchard came there to reside — Harvey J. Harmon, and Rodol- 
phus Dickinson. They were opposite in ])olilics — Harmon support- 
mg Jackson, and Dickinson siiitportitig Adams. Harmon was hon- 
est and a!)le, but inditVerent to business, and fond of talking politics. 
He cultivated the island; but his fences were often down, and liogs 
and cattle gathered his crops. Mr. Birchard used to, in jest, tell 
him that he never got but one basket of corn from the island, and 
that, as he passed the corner tavern, some one engaged him in a po- 
litical debate, and the hogs ate up his corn. 

No churches were in Lower Sandusky in 1S2T. Religious meet- 
ings were held in an old log school house, that stood nearly where 
the new high school building now is, on Croghan street. Court was 
held in the same building, until tlie frame court house was finished, 
where Kev. H. Lang now lives. The preachers were, Rev. .Mr. 
Harrington, a Presbyterian, who took up preaching in bis old age. 
He generally put in two hours' time on each sermon. Rev. Mr. 
Montgomery, a Methodist missionary, lived with the Seneca Indi- 
ans, near Fort Seneca. These men preached only occasionally. — 
Rev. .Mr. Bigclow, and other ^lethodists, also visitt-d the town. 
Samuel Treat, John I'ell, Thomas (TuUagher, and Thomas L. Haw- 
kins, and their wives, all Methoilists, were the only church members, 
now recollected by Mr. Birchard, as living in Fremont, in l.*>:i7. 
.huige Jacob Nyce always led the sin<.'ing. in the Presbyterian mevt- 
iiigs. but was not a church member. 

Among the farmers living near I^ower Sandujky. were Mr. Moore, 
father ot James and John, who owned the mill property near Balls- 
ville; Mr, Chamberlain, a short distance above Alooro: Mrs. Tin<lall 
and sons, Diiniel, William, John, and Kdward; Mr. ratterson, and 
his sons, ])anl"ortli, and Julius. 

Mr. B. attended the sales of Unit''<l States lands at Delaware, 
about l.S-.iO, by Piatt Brush, Register of the Land UfHce. The sale 
included all of the lands from Delaware county north to the State 
line, e.Kcept the Indian reserva'ions. The lands were sold at pid)lic 
auction, the minimum prici- being fixed at Si.v;"> per acre. The .•■ale 
continued two or three weeks, and large crowds of people attended. 
On certain tracts, there was a brisk competiti-in in the bidding, and 
somo land sold as high as §10 per acre. 



524 Sandushy County — Sardis Bircliard. 



[The foregoing is chiefly gathered from notes embracing some of 
the recollections of Mr. Birchard, as communicated in a conversa- 
tion with a friend, and not designed, originally, for publication. 
What follows, in conclusion, only embraces facts now generally 
known ; but, unless placed upon record, would perish with this gen- 
eration.] 

During a period now embracing nearly half a century, Mr. Bir- 
chard has been active and conspicuous, where good words and 
works were required, in the promotion of every important scheme, 
designed to advance the welfare of the town and county of his resi- 
dence. 

It has already been stated, that he was connected with the first 
enterprise that opened river and lake commerce, between Fremont 
and Buftalo. Appropriations, by the State, for the construction of the 
Western Reserve and Maumee road, had in him an early, untiring, 
and efficient friend; and, through his efforts in circulating petitions 
over the State (throughout Mdiich he had a large business acquain- 
tance), to influence public opinion, and thus secure favorable legis- 
lative action, the work was doubtless completed many years earlier 
than it Avould otherwise have been. 

The next and most important work that enlisted his efforts, was 
the enterprise of constructing the Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland 
railroad ; and when the scheme was struggling for existence, against 
the efforts of those friendly to the rival roiite, now known as the 
Northern Division, which had among its friends the late Judge 
Lane, of Sandusky City, and others of commanding influence. Tiie 
chances were in favor of" the Northern route; but Mr. Birchard, in 
co-operation with C. L. Boalt, of Norwalk, commenced the enlist- 
ment and organization of forces in behalf of the Southern route. A 
public meeting — the first one held — of those along the contempla- 
ted line friendly to this route, was appointed at Bellevue. At the 
time named, the '' mass meeting,'' it Avas discovered, was composed, 
in great part, of the citizens wliich Mr. Birchard had persuaded to 
go along Avith him from Fremont. 

At one time, during the progress of the struggle, Mr. Boalt and 
Mr. Birchard pledged every dollar of their private fortunes, for tlic 
purpose of raising funds to prosecute the enterprise ; and without 
such ])ledges and extraordinary personal elforts, and the encounter 
of such hazards, it is probable that the construction of the southei'u 
line of the Lake Shore road, would have been ])ostponed many 
years. Mr. Boalt was made the first President of the road, upon 
the organization of the Company; and, heartily co-operating with 
him, Mr. Birchard, through his influence with loading cajjitalists in 
New York, was successful in obtaining the neces.«ary means to push 
forward the work. 

He was an active and influential member of the Whig party while 
it existed, and did not abandon his interest in politics after its do- 
piise ; but was an earnest supporter of Mr. Lincoln and the war, 



S(fnrlnsl\f/ Count}/ — Rodolphus Diclcinson. 52') 



He was a purchaser at the first sale of covornmcnt bonds, lo carry 
on the war lor the Union, made in Ohio in Isdii. 

Mr. I'.irchard ia ho>i)ita])lo, warmhcarttHl, and friendly. In adili- 
tion lo conlribution.s to religious and benevolent objects, his private 
charities are large. His lattst and most important bcnelaction, 
atk'ctiiig the public interests of Fremont, was made within the 
]»resent year, in the donation by him, to said city, of a tract ot 
ground, to be devoted lo the usis of the jiublic as a park. The 
Toledo Morning C'onnticrriid, in an elaborate notice of this donation, 
thus described the groun<l : 

'"Tlie laml is highly favorable in its topography, while the loca- 
tion could not be more eligible. It is timljcrcil by the large trees 
common to the native forest of that section, while it lies at the very 
door of the part of the city on the hill. Improvements are already 
surrounding it, and in a few years it will be entirely encompassed 
by the population whose it is lo be.'' 

I'or many years past, he has been a member of the Presbyterian 
church; and while iWe from bigotry, and tolerant ot the views and 
conduct of others, is always found ready to support the cause of 
religion and morality. He never married ; but almost always has a 
hou-e well lille<l with young relatives and friends — his chief enjoy- 
ment being in contributing to the happiness of those aroimd liim. 

J^Ir. B. has a deci<led taste for works of art, and derives great 
enjoyment from the tine collection of paintings which now adorn 
his residence. 



KODOLI'IIL'S DICKINSON' 

Was born al Whately, Massachusetts. December S^^, T.OT. a)id was 
a graduate ot Williams College, in that Slate. Kcaching Colum- 
bus, Ohio, early in lile. he taught school, and studied law with the 
late Gu.-tavus Swan, of that city ; and after his admission to the bar, 
commenced practice at Tiffin, and was a|)pointed, at the first term 
of the court of common ])lcas, held in Seneca county, in l>!-*4, pros- 
ecuting attorney. Kesignmg this office (and the lato Abel Uawson 
having been appointed his successor), Mr. Dickinson removed to 
Lower Sandusky in -May, 18'i(); and. in lS-.i7, was married to Miss 
Margaret Ikaugrand. daughter of John B. Beaugrand, one ot the 
oUlest settlers of Low.r Sandusky, and at an early <lay jiarlm-r of 
General .lohn K. Hunt, at Maumee City. 

Connecteil with the inception and j)rosccution of the si hemes of 
early public works, in which norlhwest<rn Ohio, jiarticidarly, was 
then so deeply interested, the late Mr. Dickinson occupied liigher 
l>rominence than any of his cctcmporaries. or official colleagues. 
This is lr\ie especially of those works, of so great importance an<l 
value in their day, — the Wabash and Erie Canal, and the Western 
lieserve and Maumee road. His official relations to lluse public 
improvements, as a member of the Board of Public \\ orks, com- 



526 Sandusky County — General BucMand. 



menced in 1836, and closed in 1845, and embraced the whole period 
from the first letting to the final completion of the contracts; and 
the prosecution of work included an era of financial embarrass- 
ment the most severe tha State of Ohio, in all its history, ever en- 
countered. His influence with his colleagues, with the Board of 
Fund Commissioners, and with the Ohio Legislature, was gener- 
ally potential ; and during a series of years when the credit of the 
State was so prostrated, ihat its bonds sold as low as fifty cents on 
the dollar (the proceeds of sales being realized in paper of suspend- 
ed banks depreciated ten or twelve per cent.), his prudent counsels 
contributed largely in saving the prosecution of the works men- 
tioned, from indefinite suspension. 

In 1846, Mr. Dickinson was elected to Congress, re-elected in 
1848, and died soon after the commencement of his second term of 
service, at Washington City, on the 20th of March, 1849. 



ilALPH p. BUCKLAND. 

"Our recent civil war,'' says Mr. Barnes, in his Fortieth Congress 
of the United States, ''the war of 1812, and that of the American 
llevolution, are all associated with the history of the subject of this 
sketch, and his immediate ancestors. His grandfather was a ca]itaiu 
of artillery in the Kevolutionary War, from East Hartford, Con- 
necticut. He was taken prisoner by the British, and died in the 
Jersey prison-ship, near New York. His father went from Massa- 
chusetts to Portage county, Ohio, as a surveyor, in 1811. He en- 
listed as a volunteer in Hull's army, was surrendered at Detroit, and 
died at Kavenna, Ohio, a few months after his return home, from 
disease contracted in the service. 

"Kalph Pomeroy Buckland was bom in Leyden, Massachusetts, 
January 20, 1812. His father, a short time before his death, had 
conveyed his family to the West, and settled them in the wilderness 
of Ohio. His premature death left them in dependent circumstan- 
ces. Kalph was dependent upon the exertions of his mother, and 
the kindness of friends for support, until he was old enough to earn 
a living by his own labor. He had the advantage of attending the 
common schools of the country during the winter, and attended the 
academy at Talmadge during the summer of 1830. In the follow- 
ing autumn, he went down the Mississippi river, stopping a few 
months at Natchez, where he found employment as a clerk. In the 
spring of 1831, he was sent by his employers to New Orleans, in 
charge of two flat-boats, loaded with flour. He remained at New 
Orleans, as clerk of the cotton house of Harris, Wright & Co., until 
the summer of 1834, when he returned to Ohio, spent a year at 
Kenyon College, studied law with Gregory Powers, at Middlebury, 
and Whittlesey & Newton, at Canfield, and was admitted to the bar 
at the March term of the Supreme Court, on the Circuit, held at 




r; 







A^^ ^ 







Sandusly Count i/ — General liUrMund. 527 

Gallipolis in 1837. Six mcntl)s of liis law study, nlthoun^h Whittlo- 
si'y t-t Nfwtoii were his prccojitors, were in the law oflice of tlie late 
George B. Way, at 'J'olcdo. 'IHiis enihracid tlie jicriod fn'm Janu- 
ary to June, inclusive, of 18:5(). During' thirf iiine, Mr. Way wn.s 
editor of the Toledo JUddc, and, in his abst nee, Vdung Huekland 
was the ad inlcrim editor. In thf Huninur of 18;J?, he commenced 
the ))ractict' of his j)roret8ion at Fremont. mIutc In- now rtsides. 

"in January, ls3S, h«' was nnirried to ]\liss Charlotte llouphton, 
of Canlield, Ohio. In ^^\^, he was a dele^Mte to tht- Whi;; National 
Convention, at Philadelphia, ihait nominaied Taylor and Fillmore. 
In 1805, he was elected to the State Senate, and re-elected in 1857, 
serving tour years. 

"In October. 1801, he began to organize the .seventy-second i«gi- 
ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which, in three months, was fully 
equipped, and ready for the field. Soon after entering upon active 
service. Colonel linckland was assigned to the command of the 
Fourth Brigade of Sherman's Division. On the Tth of March. 
1802, he moved up the Tennessee river, and, on the 17th, encamped 
at Pittsburgh Landing — the left of his brigade resting at Shiloh 
church. On the 3d of April, he made a reconnoissance with his 
brigade four miles to the lror.t,"and on the 4th he participated in a 
skirmish with some of the enemy's advanced forces. On the morn- 
ing of the Gth, Colonel Buckland's brigade was in line full one hour 
before the hard lighting began. lie advanced his lines alxiut two 
hundred yards on the left, and about four hundred yards on the 
right, and met the enemy. The fighting was des|)erate for two 
hours. During this time, the Colonel was riding along the line, en- 
couraging his men by word and examj)le, the rebels being repeat- 
edly driven back. Colonel Buckland's brigade maintained \U ground 
until ordered back by General Sherman. He was heavily engaged 
during the second day, and was continually in the saddle. 

"On one occasion, being ordered to advance his brigade, under a 
very severe lire of artillery and musketry from the enemy, one of 
his color-bearers hesitated to move. Colonel Bucklaml rode U> 
the front, seized the colors, and ]ilanted them at the desired point. 
His brigade instantly advanced, with cheers. (Jeneral Lew. Wal- 
lace remarked, on Tuesday morning, while riding over the ground 
which the brigade had occupied, that, 'judging from the dead bodies, 
here seems to have been the best and tne hardest fighting.' 

"He continued in command of the brigade during the march 
on (Jorinth, until about the middle of May. when he wiw succeeditl 
by General J. W. Denver. At Memphis, Tennessee, he was assigned 
to the command of a brigade in General Liuman's division, and 
formed part of the Tallahatchie expedition. 

"As soon as the news reached General Grant, that General Van 
Dorn had taken Holly Spring.", General Buckland was (»ent with his 
brigade to retake the i)lacc. This having been accompliBhed, he wud 
sent to drive Forrest Irom his camp at Dresden, West Tennessee. 



528 Sandusky County — General BucMand. 



" On the 20tli of March, he joined General Sherman's corps, in 
front of Vicksburg, and participated in the series of battles which 
occurred in the movement to tlie rear of that place. During the 
siege, he was always active and vigilant, and at times mncli exposed. 
On the 22d of May, he led his brigade down the graveyard road, 
marching on foot to support the assault on the enemy's works, ex- 
posed to a murderous fire of artillery and musketry. Although 
General Buckland was constantly exposed until all his regiments 
were in position, and his men shot down around him in great num- 
bers, he escaped unhurt. 

" He remained with his command, in the rear of Vicksburg, after 
the surrender, until the 1st of October, when his right arm was 
broken by the falling of his horse. By this injury, he was incapaci- 
tated for active field service, but continued to command his brigade, 
except for a short time, until, on the 2Gth of January, 18G4, he was 
assigned to the command of the District of Memphis, where his 
administrative abilities were exemplified, and his integrity of char- 
acter was clearly manifested. 

''At tlie time of the Forrest raid into the city, Gen. C. 0. Wash- 
burne commanded that department, with his headquarters at Mem- 
phis. General Buckland had command of tlie troops in the city. 
Most of the troops had been sent in pursuit of Forrest, under com- 
mand of General A. J. Smith. Forrest eluded Smith nfur Oxford, 
Mississippi, made a rapid march to Memphis, captured the cavalry 
patrol, rushed over the infantry pickets, and was in Memphis before 
daylight, took possession of General Washbnrne's headquarters, cap- 
turing his staff officers, clerks, and guards— the General escaping to 
the fort below the city. When General Buckland was awakened by 
the sentinel at the door, the rebels were in possession of a considera- 
ble part of the city, and on all sides of General Bnckland's head- 
quarters. General Buckland rallied about 150 men, quartered near 
him, caused a small alarm gun to be rapidly fired, and instantly at- 
tacked the rebels at General Washbnrne's headquarters, although 
they out-numbered him four to one. General Buckland very soon 
concentrated all his forces, which were stationed in different parts of 
the city, and followed up his attack so rapidly, and with such spirit, 
that m less than an hour he had driven every rebel out of the city, 
and attacked General Forrest's main force just outside; and after a 
sharp fight of about one hour. General Forrest was in full retreat, 
having entirely failed in the object of his attack on Memphis. But 
for General Buckland, Forrest would have held the city, and cap- 
tured immense stores of government property. 

" General Buckland remained in command of the post of Mem- 
phis until December 24, 1864, when he resigned his commission. 
AVithout having sought or expected political favor, he had been nomi- 
nated for Representative in the Thirty-Ninth Congress, while still 
serving in the army; and without going home to farther his inter- 
ests, he had been elected by the people of the Ninth District of 



Sandushy Covnty — General Bucl-lancl^ 529 



Ohio. In obedience to their wishes, lie left the military for the civil 
service of the country. Diiriiif; the Thirty-Ninth Congrese, he 
served on the Comniiitee on Banking and Currency, and on the 
Militia. In 18(5G, he was re-elected, and served throughout the For- 
tieth Conijress." 

After the close of his Congressional service. General Buckland 
resumed his law practice — a field of labor in which, Lefore tiie war, 
he hud attained distinc;tion. 

Alth()U(,'h, when in practice before the war, and since his retire- 
ment Iruni military and congressional service, he has never wanted 
for the best class of clients, he has fuuiid Kisure to cultivate his nat- 
ural taste for the beautiful in nature and art. Thirty-one \earsago, 
in the spring of 1841, he was the lirsi who transplant* d, in front of 
his then ris. deuce, corner of Main and Croglian streets, the strip- 
ling mapk-s, now large and vigorous, that adorn, and aff ird grateful 
shade during summer heats, to those whose business or pleasure 
calls them to that locality; and, through his persuasion, and, to a 
considerable d<grce, by meim-t of his own liberal contributions, the 
same adornm 'nts were initiated, the same spring, on the outer mar- 
gins of the sidewalks fronting the Court House sfpiare, and the 
Episcopal church. These evidencis of refined culture will long en- 
dure, as testimonies of his foresight and good taste. In everv j)ub- 
lic enterprise and plan of benevoK-nce, General Buckland manifests 
a livfly interest, and his material as well as moral aid is cheerfully 
given. 

In March, 1870, he received the appointment, at the hands of 
Governor Hayes, as one of the Board of Managers of the Ohio Sol- 
diers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, located at Xenia; and, at the 
first meeting of the board following his appointment, he was elected 
President, which position he yet holds. The beneficrnt results, 
already realized from the establishment of this institution, are large- 
ly due, and justly awarded, to General Buckland, who has spared no 
personal sacrifice or care to secure the patriotic and benign purposes 
that dictated the founding of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Or- 
phans' Home. 



The following is a list of the Sandusky county officers, in 1872: 
Clerk, J. R. Gejdiart; prosecuting attorney, A. B. Pullman; au- 
ditor, George W. Gurst; treasurer, J. B. Elderkin ; probate jud<:e, 
John L. Green, jr. ; sheriff, A. Young; coroner, William Harsster; 
recorder, W. W. Stine; surveyor, Jeremiah Evans; commissioners, 
Henry Reiliug, David Fuller, and Martin Longabaiigh. 



The census returns of Suutliiakv coiintv indicate a vorv BaJisfactorv pro- 
gress, as follows: In iM'iO, S'ii ; in ISUU, 5,851 ; in 1840, 10,183; in IWO, 14,- 
yOj; in 18i0, 2 1,4-29; in 1870, 23,503. 

33 



§.^0 



Sandusky Ooilnty — Statistics^ Etc. 



The population of Fremont, Clyde, and of the several townships, were ofti- 
cially reported as follows : 



TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS. 


1870 


1860 


1850 


Ballville 


1781 

5455 
3066 

1350 
985 
927 
1461 
1570 
1274 
1290 
2282 
1418 
2094 


2188 

3510 

" 2527 

701 

1478 

881 

943 

1198 

1251 

1264 

1062 

1992 

1516 

1619 


1556 


Fremont 


1464 


Green Creek 


1289 


Clyde 




Jackson 


1092 


Madison 


389 


Rice 


486 


Riley 


682 


Sandusky («) 

Scott 


1040 

792 


Townsend 


988 


Washington , 


1499 


Woodville 


1237 


York 


1811 







(a) Exclusive of city of Fremont. 

The total amount of taxes collected in Sandusky county, in 1822, 
amounted to 1154,60. There is no record of the valuation. 

-The following was the valuation of Sandusky county in 1871 : 

In the county : — 

Real property $8,452,660 00 

Personal property - 3,943,344 00 

Total $12,396,004 00 

And the following was the valuation of property in Fremont : 
Real property $1,072,860 00 



Personal property. 



768,028 00 



Total fl,840,883 00 

In Clyde, the following was the valuation : 



Real Property 

Personal Property. 



Total. 



% 320,570 00 
169,892 00 

$ 490,462 00 



The city of Fremont is at the head of navigation of Sandusky 
river, has the advantage of two railway lines — the Lake Shore and 
Michigan Southern, and the Lake Erie and Louisville — and, also, of 
the Western Reserve and Maumee McAdamized road. 

The city contains nine churches, — one Presbyterian, one Episco- 
pal, one Methodist, two Catholic, one Evangelical, one German Ee- 
ibrrned, one German Lutheran, and one colored church. 

The county affords substantial support to four newspapers — the 
Fremont Messenger, by J. S. Van Valkenburg; the Fremont Jour- 



Oftawa County — Early Iliatovy. 53 1 



nnh by A. TI. I'iilsloy : the Fremont Courier (rjornian), by Willmcr 
it Knerr, ami th*' Clyde luilepcndin/, by K. K. White. 

In the city of Fremont, there are. also, two carriage and wagon, 
and five wagon shops; one foundry and machine shop, and onefoun- 
<lry; four flouring mills; one furniture factory; one hub and spoke 
do; three lime kilns, and one manufactory of lime and Freer stone; 
one do of steam boilers; three jdaning mills, manufacturing sash, 
doors, etc. ; four saw mills; one cotton and woollen factory; two 
tanneries; one jushery ; two breweries ; one extensive pork jiacking 
house; three cooper shops; three cigar manufacturing establish- 
ments; one carding mill; three pump factories?; eight boot and shoe, 
six blacksmith, and four tailor shops, and four bakeries. 

Among the business houses are two banks — the First National, 
and a private bank; seven hotels, one of which is a new and expen- 
sive structure; eight dry goods, thirty grocerv and ])rovision, tlirco 
clothing, three furniture, lour harness and satldlery, one butter and 
game, four jewelry, four boot and shoe, two crockery, four drug, 
three hardware, and one wholesale wine and lifjuor store; six meat 
markets; four photograph galleries; twelve luillimry and dress-ma- 
king establishments, a'nd four livery stables. 



OTTAWA COUNTY 

Was erected at the legislative session of 1839-40, being formed of 
territory taken from the counties of Sandusky and Erie. 

Homer Everett, of Fremont, in his reminiscences, has the follow- 
ing touching the tribe which suggested the name for the county: 

"'Ottawa' is an Indian word signifying trader, and was the name 
of a tribe of natives who had their home on the banks of the Mau- 
mee river, and whose hunting ground embraced this county, and 
other adj icent territory. The language of the Ottawas was worthy 
of notice. When a young man, I was clerk in the mercantile house 
of the late Judge Jesse 8. Olmstead, at Ix)wer Sandusky, now Fre- 
mont. The business of the house consisted, in a lar^re degree, of 
Indian tradi . This trade was principally with the Wyandots, of 
Upper Sandusky, the Senccas, who resided on a reservation, partly 
in Seneca and partly in Sandusky counties, and the Ottawas of 
Maumee." 

Historical matter, referring to pioneers and early events, is given 
elsewhere. 

The first session of the commissioners waa held at Port Clinton 
].3lh April, 1*^40. Present, P^zekiel Klce, and William (Jill— James 
Kingham, clerk. Bonds were tiled by the following countv offi- 
Cf^rs: James Kingham, auditor ; Cyrus >foore, treasurer; ^^ illiam 
IJ. Craighill, aj^praiscr; Eli Foglefong, assessor; Henry J. Miller, 
sheriff. 



532 Lucas Couniy—JEayiy Ilistorij, 



The first term of court commenced at Port Clinton April 5, 1840, 
by Associate Judges Samuels Hollinshead, Koger Kirke, and Samuel 
and Gilbreath Stewart ; and clerk, Stanton H. Brown. The princi- 
pal business transacted at this term, was the naturalization of for- 
eigners. The earlv lawyers in attendance, during several of the first 
terms, were John L. Green, R. P. Buckland, W. F. Sloan, Spink & 
Hosmer, Charles L. Boalt, Joseph M. Root, George Reber, William 
AV. Ainer, Parish & Saddler, J. H. Magruder, Lucas S. Beecher, 
Pitt Cooke, and Homer Everett. 

Among the pioneers of Ottawa county, were the following: 

Harvey J. Miller, who removed from his native town, Putnam, 
Ohio, when a boy, to Huron county, and in 1832 purchased land in 
Sandusky (now Ottawa) county. He was engaged, during several 
seasons of navigation, in the marine service on Lake Erie. He con- 
tinues his residence in Ottawa county. 

Portage township, in 1828, when Mr. Miller first visited it, inclu- 
ded in its organiz ition the present townships of Bas, Erie, Salem, 
and Carroll. In Salem township, there were a few inhabitants estab- 
lished in the neighborhood of Hartford. 

Joseph Momeny (whose name has heretofore been mentioned as 
one of the early settlers of Lower Sandusky,) was at "Winchester's 
defeat, on the river Raisin, and, after that disaster, brought the two 
families of Beaugrand on the ice to the mouth of Huron river — 
passing the mouths of the Maumee, and Portage rivers, and Port- 
land (now known as Sandusky City). There were then block hoti- 
ses at Port Clinton, aad Sandusky City. Mr. Momeny rendered 
valuable service as a scout during the war — was bearer of dispatches 
from General Harrison, during the siege of Fort Meigs, to Gallipo- 
lis, and was active at the defense of Fort Stephenson ; and after 
peace was concluded, settled at Lower Sandusky, where he died in 
January, 1843, at the age of G3 years. 

Judge A. Kraemer, who settled in Toledo in 1835, and after 
Manhattan was platted, erected the first frame house in that town, 
was also one of the first settlers at Oak Harbor, where he yet resides. 

The county has three newspapers : The Ottawa County News, R. 
Stanberry, editor: Elmore Weekly Courier, J. E. Crofoot, editress, 
and the Exponent, Oak Harbor, W. E. Freer, editor. 

In population, the county had, in 1840, 2,248 ; in 1850, 3,808; in 
1860, 7,016; in 1870, 13,364; and the town of Elmore had, in 1870, 
a population of 1131 ; Genoa, 558, and Port Clinton, 543. 



LUCAS COUNTY. 

The organisation of this county was made amid the storms of the 
disputed jurisdiction between the Federal Government and the State 
of Ohio — the former holding in trust the interests of the territory of 
Michigan. The stirring events attending its introduction into the 



Lucas County- -Earl (J History. r)3.S 



fnmily of Oliio counties, are sketohod in the chapter rdatinjif to the 
boundary controversy. It wa3 natiu-d after the chamiMon of Ohio's 
interest in that conHiot, the then Governor, liol)ert Lucas. 

Exceptins^ only F«)rt Wayne, tlierc is no present orf^anized county 
in the Maumee V'alley inve.stcd with points surpassing in hiatorical 
prominence than those eniliraced within the limits of liUcas county. 

On the score of antiquity, the fact may l)e recalled, that, near the 
present site of Maumee City, the French, in 168U (twenty-one years 
before the founding of Detroit by Do Cjulillac), erected a stockiule, 
and this settlement by the white race, ]>laces Lucas county next, or 
equal, in interest to Allen Qounty, Indiana. The British Kort Mi- 
ami, near Maumee City, which General Wayne, in his brilliant expe- 
dition in August, I7'.t4, discovered, had, as he states, in his corres- 
pondence with the British commandant. Major Campbell [pp. 9'J 
and 93], been then only recently erected, under orders from the 
Cana<lian Governor, Sinicoe. It was one of the important seats of 
the British power in the northwest, at an early period, and the head- 
quarters, often, of the renegade Girty, and the residence, also, of 
those notorious enemies of the Americans, during the Indian wars 
in the northwest. Colonel McKee, and Captain Elliott. 

Soon after the victory of General Wayne, and the evacuation of 
Fort Miami by the British, many French and Americans settled at 
th*^ foot of the rapids. In October, 1807, James Carlin (government 
blacksmith.) and family, removed from the river Baisin to Maumee 
City; and his son. Squire Carlin, now a resident of Hancock county, 
states, that when his father's family reached the place, now known 
as Maumee City, the following were residents of the neighborhood: 
Three families of Ewing (the Christian names of two being Wil- 
liam, but the tirst name of the tliird not by him recollected); Wil- 
liam and Andrew llace, and a 3Ir. Carter — making a total of six 
American families. David Hull, a single man, atid a nephew of the 
General who surrendered the American army at Detroit, also resided 
at Maumee as a trader and tavern-keeper — his sister keeping house 
for him. 

In addition to the American families above named, Mr. Carlin says 
there was a settlement of French, among whom were J. B. Beau- 
grand, Mr. LaPoint, Mr. Momeny. and Mr. Peltier. All these were 
traders, and empl lyed a considerable force of young men to visit the 
Indian camps, and barter for furs and skins. In numbers, the French 
population were in excess of the American. 

Nejir the mouth of the river, opposite Manhattan, about 1806 or 
180S, a French settlement, near the village of the Ottawa IndiauB, 
was established. Ctinspicuous among these French adventurers, was 
IVt^r Navarre, a grandson of Robert de Navarre, an odicer in the 
military service of France, who came to the country in lTt.'>. The 
Ottawa village, Navarre asserts, had been in existence sine* the days 
of the Pontiac conspiracy; and the head chief of the nation waa a 
descendant of Pontiac. At this time, also, the widow of Pontiac, 



534 Lucas County — Navarre^ Manor, Etc. 



Kan-tuck-ee-gun, and his son, Otussa, dwelt at the month of the 
river. The old woman was held in high reverence — always the first 
one applied to by the nations for advice, and the lirst to sign all 
treaties. Otussa was a man of excellent sense, free from the vices 
of his tribe; and, with none ot the ferocity, inherited all the brave- 
ry of his father. Mesh-ke-ma, a cousin of Otussa, was a chief on 
the opposite side of the river, and was the finest orator of the nation, 
and the foremost speaker at all treaties. Ka-ne-wa-ba was another 
noted chief. A-be-e-wa, another chief, was quite young at the time 
of his death, which was produced by i)oison, in ]810. Navarre's 
recollections of him (says H. L, Hosmer, now of Montana, who 
communicates these notes,) seem to indicate that he was the most 
talented man in the nation. There were 8,000 of the Ottawas, at 
this time, living upon the lower Maumee, and subsisting principally 
by hunting and fishing. 

The last hundred of these eight thousand, who left their old 
homes in 1837, to go west of the Mississippi, were nothing but va- 
grants and drunkards — made so by contact with the whites. 

The intelligence that Avar was declared in 1812, was first commu- 
nicated to the white settlers at the foot of the rapids, and at Mon- 
clova (these places then being the only white settlements between 
Lower Sandusky and Frenchtown, or Monroe), by Peter Manor, of 
Providence. 

Peter Navarre, hitherto mentioned, joined Hull's army on the 
Maumee, went to Detroit, and then returned to Eaisin, where he 
enlisted in Colonel Anderson's regiment. He was at Eaisin when 
the British Captain, Elliott, accompanied by a Frenchman and a 
Wyandot, came with a flag to inform Colonel Brush, and the troops 
at Eaisin, that they were included in the terms of surrender of 
Hull. Navarre and his four brothers, acknowledged thomselves as 
prisoners, and were permitted to depart on parole. 

"Peter Manor says," (we quote from H. L. Hosmer,) "that the 
first intimation of Hull's surrender was given to the French settlers 
at the foot of the rapids, by a party of 60 or 70 Delawares, who 
arrived there in advance of the main body of the army, on their 
march to Fort Wayne. Manor says that he, with some of his neigh- 
bors, was standing in front of Beaugrand's store, at Maumee, when 
the Indians came out of the woods — that they drew him up in line, 
and each put his gun to his shoulder and aimed, as if to fire at the 
little group of settlers. Beaugrand came out and waved a white 
handkerchief. They dropped their muskets, and approached the 
store on a run, and remained a few minutes. An hour after their 
departure, about 100 British soldiers, and as many Pottawotomies 
and Wyandots, came up. Their first inquiry was for guides. Manor, 
from prudential motives, was seized with sudden and severe lame- 
ness; but it would not do. The officer in command pressed him 
into service as a guide, and lame as he seemed, he was compelled to 
conduct this company to the head of the rapids. Here his lame- 



Lucas Counfij — I^etev .Navarre. 



noes so increased, that his persecutors dismissed him, and he set out 
on his ri'turn lioine. At the foot of Prc^juc* Irik- Hill, he met Coh)- 
nel Klliott, the ollicer in command of the detiichmmt, and tho re- 
mainder ol the troops and Indians compcainj; it. Elliott examined 
him closely, and on learnin<; that he had Keen cmjiloyeil as a ^'uide, 
permitted him to go on his way. lie jiroceeded to Beauprand's. 
Findinsj that the country was ffettinj,^ too hot for him, and sympa- 
thising with the American cause, he left the rapids to join his fam- 
ily, which had previously removed to the dwelliufj of liobert Na- 
varre, at the mouth of the river. At Swan Creek, he came suddenly 
upon two British vessels. The otlicer in command, not satisfied 
with his account of himself, took him ]irisoner, and confined him 
under hatches. He remained there untd Beaugrand could Im? in- 
formed of his condition ; and upon liis representation that Manor 
was a tory, he was released." 

Peter Navarre and his four brothers, and Peter Manor, and Joseph 
Bordeau, rendered valuable aid to the United States, as scout* during 
tlie war of 1812; and had (ieneral Winchester listened to their saga- 
cious and timely suggestions, the disaster at the river Kaisin would 
not, probably, have occurred. 

"Navarre and his brothers were employed as scouts, by Harrison, 
as soon as Fort Meigs was completed. "When the Indians first made 
their appearance, Navarre discovered them crossing the river at 
the foot of the island. On reporting this to Harrison, he gave him 
three letters — one to Lower Sandusdy, one to Upper Sandusky, and 
a third to Governor Meigs, at Url)ana. Navarre departed, and at 
the close of the fifth day, handed the message to (iovernor Meigs." 

Peter Navarre, who is yet living near the Maumee Bay, was born 
at Detroit in 17)S0, being now 87 years of age. An editorial in the 
Toledo Blade, of May, 1872, gives the following, in addition to what 
has been hitherto sketched, upon the authority of this \enerable 
patriot: 

"At the battle of the Thames, on the Ist of October, Navarre 
was under Johnson, in the immediate vicinity of Tecamseh, of 
whose death he speaks as follows: 

"*Ue was standing behind a largo tree that liad blown down, en- 
couraging his warriors, and was killed by a ball that p.nssed diago- 
nally through his chest. After death he was shot several times, but 
otherwise his body was not mutilated in the least, being buried in 
his regimentals, as the old chief desired, by myself and a comj>an- 
ion, at the command of General Harrison. All statements that he 
was scalped or skinned are absolutely false.'" 

"While at Maiden, General Proctor, of the British army, offered 
the Indians ¥l,OU0 for the scalp of Navarre, and was informed that 
if he wanted it he must secure it himself, as in times of jK-ace they 
had taught him all their knowledge of woodiraft, and now it was 
almost impossible to capture him. 



536 Lucas County — Recollections of Major Stichney. 



"Mr. Navarre receives a pension of $8 per month by a late act of 
Congress, and resides at Big Ditch, wich his wife and family, about 
six miles east of Toledo." 



The early history of Toledo is very fully embodied in the recol- 
lections of the late Major B. F. Stickney, and of J. W. Scott, Rich- 
ard Mott, Willard J. Daniels, and others, which will soon follow. 

Says Major Stickney : 

"By act of Congress, in 1816-17, the reservation of twelve miles 
square, was ordered to be surveyed and sold in February, 1817. The 
centre of this reserve was the Big Island, at the foot of the rapids of 
the Maumee, and expended down the river far enough to include the 
mouth of Swan Creek. A company of Cincinnati men purchased 
at the sale two tracts, making about 400 acres, at the mouth of 
Swan Creek — laid out a few town lots and called it Port Lawrence. 
They offered a part of their lots for sale at auction in September, 
1817, at the Indian treaty at Fort Meigs. I was the purchaser of a 
greater number of lots than any other person. I then conceived 
that this property was to constitute a part of the future commer- 
cial city. 

"The company had purchased these lands of the United States 
upon the conditions of paying one. fourth in hand, and the remain- 
der in three equal annual payments, and had sold on the same terms. 
After the first payment, in consequence of the revulsion of money 
affairs, they found themselves unable to pay the other instalments, 
they having agreed to pay for the Port Lawrence tract seventy-six 
dollars and six cents per acre. Congress passed a law for their re- 
lief, known as the 'Relief law,' by which they were allowed to relin- 
quish a part to the United States, and to apply the amount to the 
quarter payment upon the three instalments upon the part they 
chose to retain. Under this provision, the Port Lawrence tract was 
entirely relinquished. All the lots that had been sold, were surren- 
dered to the United States. I prosecuted the company on their con- 
tract with me, and obtained a compromise. Before the surrender, I 
had made brick to build a dwelling on the lots I had purchased. 
These I now removed on a large tract adjoining, which I had pur- 
chased some years before, and built a house there, and commenced 
making a farm, determined to live by farming until the canal should 
be made. 

"The University of Michigan at this time owned some floating 
sections granted them by the United States for University purposes. 
They had the right to locate on certain lands within the territory of 
Michigan, belonging to the United States. The Port Lawrence 
tract was considered as being within the territory, but not exactly 
of the description called for. However, they located upon these two 
tracts, and their title was subsequently confirmed by act of Con- 
gress. 



Lucas County — Hecnllertioih^ of J. W. Scott. 



"The Cincinnati company wiis dpcmpd to ho flcad. Thr^e of the 
gentlemen who Ix'lono^ed to it, — Micajiih T. Williumfl, William Oli- 
ver, Hiid Martin liauin, — iMittTi'd into a n«"gotiHtion with the Uni- 
versity, hy which tlu-y bi-came the owiuTd of this important piece 
of tironnd. 

" In ls32. seeinjj no jiri)gpect that Hanm and Oliver would make 
any advances in improvcm'-nt on their grounds, I closi-d with an 
offer madf to me by Captain fSamnel AlK-n, of Lockport, New York, 
by which improvements were to be commenced upon my land. — 
Allen was a shrewd, far-seeinj? man. and had discovered the impor- 
tance of th'j location some ytars before this time. A contract was 
entered into between us. by the terms of which Allen was tq receive 
half the ground, upon the performance of certain covenants. 'J'his 
was in October. 1>^."52, and the contract run until the following Jan- 
uary. Allen failed to ])erform his part of the contract, but came 
on in January, accompanied liy Otis llatiiaway, whom he desired 
miglit be taken into partnership, and a new contract made. This 
was done, and a town plat laid out, and called Vistula; but, owing 
to pecuniary ditliculties, all action under this contract was suspen- 
ded in a short time. Allen bought Ilathawav's interest, and a new 
contract between us was entered into, by the terms of which we 
were to commence building wharves, warehouses, and dwelling- 
houses in the town, expend considerable sums in making road." lead- 
ing to and from it. and perform other acts, involving, in all, an ex- 
penditure of S30,00(J. One half of this expenditure was to be made 
in six months. 

"From some cause. Captain Allen failed to comply with the con- 
tract, and returned to Lockport; but after a few months came back, 
accompanied by Edward His-Jell, with whom I entered into a con- 
tract similar to the one I had made with Allen. 

" Bissell set about the work of improvement in earnest, and built 
wharves, and houses, advanced mon.y lor making roads, and, in 
many respects, did more than his contract refpiired. Vistula advan- 
ced rapidiv, and soon acquired considerable reputation. 

" In the meantime, Martin Baum died, and William Oliver, and 
Micajah T. Wil iams were the surviving proprietors of the adjt»ining 
ground, where a town plat had been laul out in 1S17. In 1H;{3. Port 
Lawreiife and Vistula were united under the name of Toledo." 



REMINISCENCES OF JESl T W. SCOTT. 

The general reader, as well as those especially interested in Toledo 
history, will appreciate the following from the pen of this eminent 
citizen : 

On this first day of January, 1*11, I commence to write matters 
which, I suppose, will be interesting to be known in the fuinre. rela- 



538 Lucas County — Recollections of J. W. Scott. 



tive to the commencement of a city on the estuary of the Maumee 
river. The reader will get my views and observations just as they 
came up in my memory while writing. 

In 1828, while residing in Columbia, South Carolina, my thoughts 
were directed to future seats of commerce to grow up in the great 
central plain of North America. My conclusion was, that the great 
city of the nation, and, probably, of the world, would grow up in 
that plain; and that, on the harbor at the west end of Lake Erie, 
would grow up a great mart, possibly the largest, probably the sec- 
ond largest, and, certainly, not below the third in rank. The period 
for the consummation of the superiority of central, over Atlantic 
cities, was thought to be either the year 1900, or about 100 years 
from that time — say, 1928 — and, for the supremacy of some central 
city over any other of the world, by the year 200U of our era. The 
largest commercial points in what was then called " the West,'''' were 
Cincinnati (numbering some 8,000), Pittsburg, Louisville and St. 
Louis — all smaller than Cincinnati. The idea of an interior mart 
becoming larger than New York, or New Orleans, was deemed, by 
persons to whom I stated these opinions, nothing short of the most 
absurd that could be suggested ; and I found no man disposed to 
give it the least hospitality. Allowing the rate of progress which 
our population had made to be continued 100 years, the truth of my 
opinion seemed perfectly demonstrable, and I thought I did make a 
complete demonstration of it. But I did not satisfy another mind, 
or make a single convert, for many years. 

In the fall of 1830, 1 removed to Ohio, and, during the year 1832, 
I published, in a small monthly sheet printed at Norwalk, at my 
expense, called " The Ohio and Michigan Register and Emigrants' 
Guide," an article in which I undertook to prove that Cincinnati, or 
some other city of the great valley, would, in A. D. 1900, be larger 
than New York, and, by the year A. D. 2000, be larger than any 
other city of the world. 

About 1838, or 1839, 1 published in the Hesperian magazine, a 
monthly published in Columbus and Cincinnati, by Gallagher &, 
Curry, a series of papers on internal improvements and interior 
cities, in which I amplified on my previous article. Previous to this 
time, to wit: in June, 1832, I visited the country at the mouth of 
the Maumee. My residence was then, temporarily, at Florence, 
then in Huron, now in Erie county, Ohio. Although I had for years 
held in high estimation some indefinite good place for a city on the 
harbor formed by the entrance of the Maumee into the lake, I bad 
not taken the trouble to visit it, until I read in the National Intel- 
ligencer, an article from the pen of Major Benjamin F. Stickney, in 
which it was stated that " the plan of a town — indeed of a city — 
had been laid out by some enterprising gentlemen from the State of 
New York," and setting forth the advantages of its position. This 
called up the desire to see the site of a city that might one day be 
great ; and I accordingly mounted my horse, and, passing through 



Lucan County — Recollectiom of J . W.Siott. 5.'5!« 



Milan, then one of the lartrest places in Northern Ohio, Lower San- 
dusky (now Fremont, and llien a place of Bnnie promise, and nrmic 
300 or 4()(( pcople)f and thence along the thirty-one miles of road 
through the swamp to l'err\>fhurg, thence crossing, hy ford, the 
!Maumee, above the old town of the same name, I, with some dlHi- 
culty, found my way along the Monroe tumjtikt', and thence from 
flection If). T. i{, U. S. li., hy a rude path through the oj)enings and 
woods to the mouth ol Swan (Jreek, an<l thence dtnvn along the 
river bank, mostly through the firest, to the new town of \'i.stula ; 
and below to the residence of Major Stickney. 

A few board shanties had been put up on Summit street, near I.a- 
grange, and some men were at work grading down what is now the 
foot of Lagrange street, ]^reparing a wiiarf lor the landing of vessels. 
At the gate of the brick hou.^e now standing — but soon to go the 
wav of all others of the olden time — I overtook Major Stickney 
and Samuel Allen (known as Captain Allen), the Major's associate 
in laying oat the new town. The Major received my address in his 
own courteous, grave manner, and Mr. Allen in that i)rompt bu>i- 
ness style, and with an air that might have become one of the soli<! 
men of Boston, accustomed to shake Stat« street by his stately 
tread. I told them my errand was to see where the mighty city site 
of the Maumee f^hould be, and to write about it — perhaps to nnike 
some purchase, if I should be satisfied that this was the right spot. 
Mr. Allen kept, as a boarding house, temporarily, the residence of 
the Major for the accommodation of the persons coming to settle or 
purchase in the new plat, or in the neighborhood. There I domi- 
ciled myself for a few days to look about. 

Mrs. Allen, a (Quaker lady, exhibited remarkable talent and tact 
in pleasing those of her guests who might forward the growth of 
the citv in embryo. In appearance and address, she was no less re- 
markable than her hnsbatul. lie was rather short, thick Eet, straight, 
and with a quick, firm movement, like one born to lead. No one 
could be better fitted to lead a forlorn hojie in battle, or in city 
building. Ilis benevolence was higii, his organ of hope large, and 
his caution small, with a back head of suflicieut capacity for ample 
motive power. 

Major Stickney, as having had more to do with this city and re- 
gion, and as a character not 1. s- mark d. T desit'n to describe more 
fully hereafter. 

Fehkuary 1*^, ISoT. — The lortgoiug, wiiiten in 'j'oledo ovt r liiir- 
teen years ago, and with the intention of regular continuation, has 
just been looked over ; and 1 now. near Castleton, New York, resume 
the narrative. 

When thes'; note^ were commenced, Toledo was a city, to be sure, 
on paper, and by act of incorporation ; but according to an esiimato 
carefully made, the entire jiopulation out of the city, on which its 
commerce depended, did not e.\ce( d "v'OO families of farmers. There 



540 Lucas County — Jtecollections of J. W. Scott. 



were probably living, within the limits, about; 2,000 people — many 
of ihem holding on with a view to the business that was expected 
to flow in on the completion of the Wabash and Erie, and the 
Miami and Erie Canals, then beingconstructed. Now the popula- 
tion is not less than 12,000, with abundance of business for a good 
support to all who are willing to work. I now resume the narra- 
tive. 

On my way to the new "Vistula," I passed through Perrysbnrg 
and Mauinee — small, but, as it seemed to me, beautifully situated 
hamlets, at the head of navigation on the Maumee river, and each 
claiming to be the best position for the chief town. The principal 
men were fur traders, or, as they were more generally designated, 
Indian traders; and their expectation of future greatness was quite 
limited. The commerce, by lake, of these places, was carried on by 
two schooners, named "Eagle" and " Guerriere,'' of about 60 tons 
burthen, and commanded by two brothers named David and James 
Wilkinson,— hardy, bluff, and strong-minded men, whose position 
as friends or enemies no one could long doubt. The principal owner 
was John Hollister, of Perrysbnrg, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 
an Indian trader and man of mark, one of nature's noblemen, whose 
influence was felt in the councils of the State, and in the commer- 
cial struggle for the supremacy between the towns at the foot of the 
rapids, and the new city below. 

The Indian trade, in furs and the fisheries, with corn growing on 
the bottom lands, constituted the business on which these hamlets 
relied for support; and, with few exceptions, the inhabitants failed 
to anticipate any considerable change from that condition. There 
was one man, however, then living in Perrysbnrg, familiarly known 
as Judge Rice — Ambrose Rice — who, in native sagacity and fore- 
sight, seemed to me, and seems now to me, to have been before any 
man I have ever known. I afterwards became intimate with him ; 
and, though I have had fcimiliar intercourse with several men who 
have the position, in public estimation, among the greatest men of 
our country, I have not known one with so penetrating a judgment, 
or so clear an intellect. Nor, in moral truthfulness, and stern integ- 
rity, was he less distinguished. His position was that of County 
Surveyor, and agent to select lands for purchasers. His usual hab- 
its were secluded, and he spent very little time in conversation. Ex- 
cept on business, he conversed with very few persons, and the com- 
munity looked upon him as very odd, especially as he usually avoid- 
ed the society of ladies — being a confirmed bachelor. 

The few days at Major Stickney's were spent in looking about and 
coming to an opinion as to the relative advantages of a city site of 
the places eight miles above, and the present position of Toledo. 
What is now partially built over, and laid out into streets, — being 
nearly all in a wild state, — seemed a wide extent of land admitting 
room for a choice of location for several towns. The two tracts, 
Nos. 1 and 2, of the 12 miles square reservation, which embraced 



Lucas Conniy — Becollcciions of J. W. Scoff. 041 



the mouth of Swan Creek, had been selected as the best point, and 
purcliased at the sale of the reserve lands in 1H17. by Muj«jr Williuni 
Oliver and a.ssociat<'8. But, as the adjoininj; lands, fur several years 
after, were still in possession of the Indians, who were then the sole 
tenants of all the northwest (juarter of Ohio, exct pt a ft-w n-st-rva- 
tions; and, as the colla])se of the credit cnrnniy of the country 
occurred soon after, this elfort to start a city at the west end of I^ake 
Erie, proved abortive. 

Alter beino; taken up the river as far as Delaware flats (where she 
got aground), by the little steamer ''Pioneer,'' which had been char- 
tered by Stickuey and Allen to run between Sandusky City and their 
"Vistula;" and turning over in my mind the atlvanta;,'e9 relatively 
to each other, of the up-river and down-river claimants, I decided 
that the down-river hail the preponderance of advantages, ami that 
the best position for the centre of the down-river town, was just 
below the entrance of Swan Creek into the river. At this point, 
there was then a log warehouse, and rude wharf, nearly rotten. Be- 
lieving in the high destiny of tlie future city, wherever it thould be, 
and having brought my mind to a satisfactory state as to its precise 
location, 1 became anxious to have an interest in it. My means 
were quite limited, so that it was necessary to make the most of my 
opportunity to buy in the right place. 

The only possible chance that I found, was a very wild and rude 
piece of ground, then possessed by Dr. Sutphen, being the S. W. fr. 
^ of sec. 3G, T. 9 8. II. 7 E., embracing with it a small jjiece of sec. 
35. Of this, I bargained for seventy acres, at ^12 |ier acre. I also 
wrote to Major Oliver, who resided in Cincinnati, olFering to become 
part owner of his tracts, and to become agent for their managcm.-nt. 
When my letter reached the Major, there was an applicant with him, 
having the same object in view. Dr. D. 0. Comstock, who bought 
one-fourth of tracts 1 and 2, and, with his brother, S. B. Comstock, 
became agent of what was called the Port Lawrence Company — 
owning river tracts 1 and 2. 

At the time I bought the seventy acres, I could have bought the 
whole fractional qu}»rtcr of eighty-six acres, by giving $15 per acre 
for what remained : but. as I thought the ]iart bought wad worth 
more by the acre than what was left, I declined to buy. Having, as 
I thought, got a fair chance to participate in the advantages of the 
future rapid growth of a great city. I embarked with mv horse on 
tlie steamer "Tioneer,'' for Sanduiky City, elatid with liigh lioin-s 
of future profit from my purchase. "On the steamer I fell m with a 
man who had just come Irom the west shore of Lake Michigan, 
where he had pre-emjited, or rather bought the pre-emption of an 
80-acre lot at the mouth of the Milwaukee river. This was the first 
time I had heard the name. I think the lanU had cost him 8<i l>er 
acre; and, as he could hardly spare so mueh money as it had co^t. 
he offered to let me in as joint purchaser, I think, but am nut cer- 
tain, at the cost price. 1 declined, telling him that he would do 



^42 Lucas County — Recollections of J, W. Scott. 



better to make the new town of Vistula the theatre of speculation, 
as it mifrht, and probably would, become a considerable city before 
settlements to any extent would reach as far west as Milwaukee. 

On my return to Florence, I told my wife, and one or two other 
persons, that the seventy acres I had bought would, in twenty years, 
be worth 120,000. They laughed at my sanguine calculation, and 
they would have been still more merry, if they had been told the 
real extent of my hopes. In 1852, the twenty years had passed. 
Toledo then possessed a population of over five thousand, and the 
seventy acres, if I had owned it all, in one piece, would probably 
have been marketable at something near, but not much over, twenty 
thousand dollars. I had, however, in 1835, about three years after 
the purchase, sold an undivided half of the tract for six thousand 
dollars, to Edward Bissell, then the largest owner of property in 
what was then the united village of Toledo — Vistula anxl Port Law- 
rence having yielded their separate existence, and become one. 

In 1835, commenced that memorable speculation in wild lan's, 
and wild cities, which culminated in 1836. The whole Maumee 
valley was filled with eastern foi tune-hunters. Congress and State 
lands were raced-for entry, and the shores of the river from Fort 
Wayne to the Maumee Bay, were alive with city-builders. From 
the foot of the rapids to the bay. land was all considered necessary 
for three-story brick blocks; and, after the canal was located on the 
north side, all the shore from Waterville to Manhattan was held as 
city property. Jackson's specie circular soon brought their airy 
fabric into ruin, which was completed by the failure of the United 
States Bank of Pennsylvania, in 1839. 

Under the auspices of Bissell and his associates, Toledo had been 
pushed forward to be a considei'able place — numbering, at one time, 
probably, over fifteen hundred inhabitants. Most of the buildings 
of any note, had been erected by the speculative owners, and when 
money ceased to flow west for investment, and men, from devoting 
themselves to speculation, turned their attention to earning their 
daily bread, Toledo was a young city in the wilderness, with high 
expectations, but with nothing, or next to nothing, to live upon. 
The great body of lands which surrounded it, had been entered for 
speculation; so that, up to tlie time of the canal being completed 
to Toledo, in 1843, there were not over 200 families out of the city, 
which resorted to it as their principal place of trade. These fami- 
lies, too, were but little advanced in farming operations; and many 
of them too deeply in debt to have much means to buy even neces- 
saries. This estimate of the number of families out of Toledo, who 
could be relied upon to do their business with its citizens, was made 
by me in 1844, when I was editor of the Toledo Blade. At that 
time, those best informed as to the advantages of the place to be- 
come a large commercial town, anticipated a more rapid growth 
tlian has been realized. Tlie canal, though a noble channel for com- 
merce, passes through a country with rich and great agricultural 



Lucas Cmintif — Recollection.^ of J. IT. Scoit. 54''. 



capabilities, but ont of the tract of the beat class of migrating farm- 
era. It has for this and other reasons, had very partial develop- 
ment 

In 1844, Toledo was little more than the dead carcass of sjx'cula- 
tion. Its previous existence had been abnormal, but its condition 
was worse than negative. It had acquirc-d a widtspnad ami almost 
universally-believed character for insalubrity. It would, in its llrst 
settlement, have been noted, to some extent, for the si-verity of its 
malarial fevers, if it had been settled by industrious and moral peo- 
ple, having the means to provide comfortable habitations, and heal- 
thy food. A large portion of its tirst inhabitants, though intelli- 
gent enough, were not possessed of the means or habits to preserve 
health, in a new and rich soil. Much sickness and distress-, there- 
fore, were suffered. When, therefore, 'after the canal began to give 
it a business worth naming, its reputation for sickliness had become 
such as to divert from it, to other western cities, mos^. of the enter- 
prising business men, who flocked thither from the old States and 
Europe. Its rivals — and almost all the towns on I^ike Erie consid- 
ered themselves such — were very industrious in giving, and keeping 
alive, the bad name which it had, in its speculutive existence, to 
some extent, deserved. Other causes cons]nred to turn the tide of 
population from the wooded region about Toledo to the )>rairie3 be- 
yond Michigan. The most powerful of these was the interest which 
existed in Bufialo and Oswego, through which, up to lSo3, nearly 
all the immigration flowed, to carry passengers and freight as far as 
possible, in their steamers and other vessels. Concurring in this, 
was the interest exerted by speculators in prairie lands, to give to 
emigrating families in Europe, and especially in (Jermany, sueh in- 
formation of the advantages of the country west of liake ^^ichigan, 
as turned the tide almost entirely through that channel. This tide 
and its reaction built up, in a very short time, the considerable cities 
of Milwaukee and Chicago. The position of the latter has always 
seemed to me one of very great commercial power, second, perhaps, 
to none other of the great plain. 

Toledo, Decemijeu 21, 18G1. — A wide interval from the last date 
for a journal. My impression, on first studying attentively the mer- 
its of the commanding commercial points of tlie great North Amer- 
ican plain, were in favor of St. Ix)uis and Cincinnati, as the chief 
rivals for the great city. Afterwards, I became convinced that the 
lake borders were to give the great emporium to the country, and 
Chicago seemed to promise beet. I now believe Toledo better loca- 
ted to' become the central city of the Continent than any other. In 
giving the preference to Chicago, I did not sufliciently value the 
}»ower, for commercial purposes, of the countries lying eastward of 
l»oth, and more accessible to Toledo. Balancing the commercial and 
other industrial power, domestic and foreign, east and west, north 
and south, of the two cities, it will be found that Toledo is more 
central. Its harbor and site are also much better than fli"-i.' .if Ciii- 



o44 Lucas Cou7iiy—AewUeciions of Richard MotL 



cago. My views, on this special subject, may be found in the De- 
cember number of 18G1, of Hunt's Merchants^ 3Iagazi7ie, in an ar- 
ticle written by me. For a general view of the causes which go to 
build up cities in modern times, I would, also, refer to an article in 
the same magazine, published in the November number for 1854. 

Toledo, April, 187]. — Another interval of ten years has passed, 
and given abundant proofs of correctness of my early, and, gener- 
ally tbought, wild calculations of the superior power of the interior 
of our continent for the growth of cities. Having lived beyond the 
ordinary limit allotted to man, and witnessed a wonderful advance 
in all that goes to give power to man, and to encourage a feeling of 
the wisdom of unity of thought and action among individuals and 
nations, I now look forward with interest and ardent hope that all 
peoples will see their welfare in the common effort to maintain 
peaceful and untrammelled commercial and social relations with 
eacb other, increasing the productiveness of lands, and building up 
more beautiful houses in country and city, and, in process of time, 
making one great central city, which shall be as the heart and brain 
of the united family of man, and a common home for the best of 
all nations, with equal rights protected by equal laws. 



REMINISCENCES OF RICHARD MOTT. 

The reader is under obligations to Mr. Mott for the charming 
style employed by him, in communicating his reminiscences of 
Toledo. He gives sketches of nearly all the old citizens, — remem- 
bering many friends, and dexterously omitting any reft^rence to his 
own manifold good works. His genial, charitable disposition is also 
manifest in the omission to refer to the foibles of some, against 
whom, in their life-time, and even since, the world delighted to ren- 
der verdicts, untempered with charity. Could Mr. Mott have -his 
own way, the good that men do would undoubtedly live after them 
in perennial bloom; while the evil, only, "would be interred with 
their bones." 

With characteristic modesty, as before stated, it will be noted that 
he scarcely refers to himself, and even such skeleton touches as he 
affords, were fairly coaxed from him. The following brief note em- 
bodies all that he vouchsafes relating to himself and family: 

"Port Washington, Queens Co., N. Y., ) 
" 8th Mo., 25, 1872. j 

"My Dear Friend: 

•'I am in due receipt of thine of the 21st. I should have re- 
plied to it sooner, but was away from home yesterday. 

" In response to the inquiries as to my birth, marriage, etc., I have 
to say : 




Qjoiui J^ 



(icJh^CrU- 



Lucas Co. — Jiecolkctions of liichard Moil. :^\ ') 



"I was born at Mamaronock, 'Wcstchestor county, New York, July 
21, 1804, — removed, in ISl.'., with my parents, to tlie city of New 
York, and was married Xovemher 1*/, 18;*S, to Elizabeth M. Smith, 
dau;jhter of ('aptain Elihn Smith, formerly of New liedford, Mas- 
eachusotls. She died in Au;(usr, lsr,5. We were both Quaker?, and 
both of Quaker descent. Tlie branch of the Mott family to which 
I belong, were amon^j the early converts, in America, of (ieorpe Fox, 
and wo have 'ever since, through each generation, adhered to the 
faith, and ever expect to, — at least I hope'so. 

"Thy friend, 

" laCIIARI) MOTT. 
"To II. S. Knapp." 

In his reminiscences, while liberally commending others, he would 
not indicate the monuments of his own enterprise; the multitude 
of his unostentatious charities; and also omits mention that the 
city of Toledo has often called him into her public councils, and 
greatly profited by his services. And, furthermore, this witness 
almost in derogation of public opinion, and to the damage of inib- 
lic wealth, — which consists, in good part, of tlie lionorable record 
made by those who have held public trusts, — he omits the sketch 
which he should have made of his four years' Congressional service, 
extending from 1857 to ISGl. 

With this very brief explanation, rendered necessary by the omis- 
sions of Mr. Mott, his recollections of Toledo are subjoined : 

My jiersonal knowledge of the Maumee country dates from tlie 
1st of March, 18oG. I arrived there after a three days' ride by stage 
from Columbus. Tlie Black Swamp was frozen hard, and we had 
an easy ride through that then dreaded region. Willard V. Way, 
then, as now, a re-sident of Perrysburg, was ihe only other jiasseiiger 
in the stage, our throe days' association making us pretty well ac- 
quainted, by the time he got out at SpafTord's, where we changed 
horses, and I came on alone to Toledo, reaching the *' Toledo House" 
late in the arternoon. The Toledo llousj was a doiilile, two story, 
brick building, standing on the corner of Perry and Summit slreeU. 
It was afterwards added to, and re-named the Indiana House. 

The road from Maumee wound along through the woods, near the 
bank of the river, and not far from the present river road. The for- 
est extended to the south bank of Swan Creek — no improvement 
being on that side, nearer than George Knaggs' farm, after leaving 
Port Aliami. At Swan Creek, a road had been cut, commencing 
where Henry lirand's brewery now is, and descending along the 
side of the bank to about opposite Superior street, where was a 
bridge — carried off l)y a freshet a few weeks later. For some years 
afterward", the creek was crossed by a scow ferry-boat, large »nougli 



546 Lucas. Co. — Recollections of Richard Moti. 



to carry a single team. This ferry was kept by Harrison Crane, 
father of Charles A. Crane, of East Toledo. 

At Columbus, I had left Stephen B. Comstock, and Andrew Palmer, 
who were successfully lobbying for a charter for a railroad from 
Toledo to Sandusky. AVilliam Wilson, then of Sylvania, was also 
there on some similar business. He had been one of the earlier set- 
tlers on the river, owning the farm adjoining Major Stickney's, to- 
wards Manhattan. At Marion we met Joseph R. Williams, Willard 
J. Daniels, George McKay, and Cyrus King, from Toledo, on 'heir 
way to Columbus, to aid in procui'ing the railroad charter— all 
young and active men, and having full faith in Toledo. Williams 
and King are not living; Daniels now resides at Lockport, New 
York. He was then, and still is, largely interested in Toledo real 
estate. McKay left Toledo during the following year, and has never 
returned. 

Adjoining the Toledo House, was the store of W. J. Daniels & 
Co., m which, at the time. Rosvvell Cheney, Jr., and Daniel McBaiti 
were clerks. Cheney remained in Toledo, and died in 1845. 

Over the store, reached by outside stairs, was a large room occu- 
pied by Emery D. Potter (since Judge), as a lawyer's office. This 
office was much resorted to by the judge's friends, who wished to 
write or transact business, all of whom were heartily welcomed by 
him — pens, ink, and pai)er, and a seat at his long table, thrown in. 
It was, in fact, the most attracting loafing place in town. Occasion- 
ally, in the evenings, a debating society met there. Besides Judge 
Potter, Peter Palmer (now living in Lockport), Daniel McBain, Caleb 
E. Abbott, and Josiah G. Murfee, were prominent in this organiza- 
tion. Joshua R. Giddings, and Benjamin F. Wade, came in the 
spring, and took part in some real estate purchases. Wade did not 
stay long, but Giddings remained a long time, and took an active 
part coh, amore in the debating society. Later in the spring, Edward 
AVade also came, and opened a law office in company with Richard 
Cook. The early settlers will recollect Cook as a lawyer of much 
promise, cut short by his untimely death, a 'i^w years later. 

Nearly opposite W. J. Daniels & Co., on part of the lot where 
Ketcham, Bond & Co. now are, was another frame store standing 
alone, over the door of which was the sign of A. Palmer & Co. This 
old building remained till 1859, when it was pulled down to make 
room for the block belonging to V. H. Ketcham. 

Daniels »& Goettel (Munson H. Daniels and Henry Goettel,) were 
doing a large business in a wooden building, on the corner of Perry 
and Swan streets. During the year, they put up two three-story 
brick stores, on the corner of Monroe and Summit streets, and, in 
the fall of 183G, moved into the corner one. These stores were 
burned October 16, 1860, and are replaced by the present Lenk's 
Block, erected in the spring of 1861. A row of buildings stood on 
the northwest side of St. Clair street, built by Colman L Keelt-r, Jr., 
where is now the American House, but extending further south, and 



Luca^ Co. — RecoUectionJi of liichanl Mott. 517 



across tlie allev that runs botwcon tlie now Police SUtion and Kel- 
8ey & King's Pork lionso. The usnally travelled road into the Port 
Lawrence end of the town was throntrh this alley, and nrjder the 
wooden arch-way of Keeler's row. 'J'his road continned nearly to 
the present site of the African cluircli, then more toward.s the north, 
passed over the rear of Austin Scott's jiroperty, cornrr of Monroe 
and Michifran streets ; thence crossinrj Monroe street, it jmssed over 
the ground where J. II. AVhitaker's house is — then along in front of 
Judge Potter's residence, and in the same direction over the rear of 
Calvin Barker's and Horace Holcumb's grounds, and just clearing 
the corner of Dr. White's house, on Madison street, continued in a 
direct line to the present road in front of Judge Fitch's mansion. 

On the river, in rear of the s'ore of A. Palmer & Co., was a log 
warehouse, an old looking building, said to have been standing -when 
Colman I. Keeler landed there in 1817. Keeler settled in that year 
on the farm now occupied by his widow, on the road above men- 
tioned. This log building was taken down in is,3f;, by Judge John 
Baldwin, who put on its site the warehouse occupied, after his death, 
in 1837, by Carpenter «fc Myers, and then by V. II. Ketcham, who 
now owns the ground— the building having been taken down to 
make room for K'-teham's block. 

The Oliver warehouse, built by Joseph Prentice, was then stand- 
ing on the west side of Monroe street, where K)1F & Co. now are, 
and occupied by A. Palmer & Co. Further down, under the bank 
of the river, on the site of M. I. Wilcox' brick store was another 
warehouse, l)elonging to William P. and W. J. Daniels. The bank, 
which was there upwards of thirty feet high, had been dug awiy to 
fill in for the dock f luudation for this warehouse, which wa.s only 
reachable from the laud side, by a road commencing at Jefferson 
street, and cut sideways down the bank. 

An attempt had been mule towards street making on Monroe 
street, but it was not used, the travel continuing on the old track 
out Perry street, and through the alley, under the arch of Keele.'s 
row. 

A brick store of two stories, belonging to John Baldwin, fronted 
Summit street adjoining W. J. Daniels. This stood till within a 
few years since. 

The ground in front of the Toledo House was about at the pres- 
ent grade of Summit street, at that corner. It was some lour or 
live feet at the lower intersection of Monroe street. Here w.xs a 
run-way for the water from the low ground, along Mud creek. Thin 
run- way was crossed on Summit street by a little log bridge, — the 
logs well covered with earth. Beyond this, at the east, was a blutf, 
some twenty feet above the present grade, and a roatl-way ha<l been 
cut partly sitlewalks to reach the top of the bluff. Here w.isa frame 
building,' then occupied, but afterwards filled up. and known as 
the National Hotel, and where Lyman T. Thayer began his success- 
ful career at hotel keeping. The present Deuol block (Fred. Katon 



548 Lucas Co. — Recollections of Richard MoU. 



& Co.'s upper store), is on the same spot. It was then a command- 
ing position having a full view of the river, — there being nothing 
to obstruct in either direction up or down. From this the road 
wound along near the edge of the bank, among stumps and bushes, 
and without regard to map lines of streets, to the post office, a two- 
story brick building, about 150 feet east of Adams street. This 
had been piit up by Edward Bissell, for the purpose it was then 
used, to be about midway between the settled portions of the previ- 
ously rival villages of Port Lawrence and Vistula, when they con- 
cluded to bury the hatchet of strite, and unite under the name of 
Toledo. 

This post office building was an isolated and pomewhat desolate 
looking affiiir, standing entirely alone. The nearest dwelling was a 
log house, directly in the present line of Summit street, at the cor- 
ner of Oak, surrounded by a worm rail fence, enclosing about half 
an acre for a garden spot. This log house was occupied by William 
Andrews and family, consisting of his wife, several sons and daugh- 
ters. Among the former was Samuel Andrews, of the Blade, — then 
a boy perhaps a dozen years old. The road passed between the en- 
closure and the river, over the lot where the Toledo mill stands, 
towads the corner of Cherry and Summit streets. From this to 
Elm street, the line of Summit street was clearly defined. The 
stumps .had been mostly grubbed out, and several buildings 
were erected on both sides. 

A frame building, occupied as two dwellings, stood on the west 
corner of Cherry street, where Wittstein's drug store is. What is 
now Dr. Bergen's dwelling, adjoining, was nearly finished. The 
frame on the corner was afterwards moved on the lot Avhere B. Mei- 
link and Co.'s furniture store stands, and was long occupied by the 
Toledo Blade, till it was removed to its present location. Cherry 
street was then the southwesterly border of the Vistula division. 
The entire space to the tavern building, above Jefferson street, was 
open and wild, except the post office building, and Mr. Andrews' 
log house. 

On the south side of Summit street, on the corner of Vine street, 
was a frame building, occupied by William Tillman as a paint shop 
below, and dwelling above. This was the next year fitted up, by 
Edward Bissell, for a dwelling, and where he resided for several 
years. It still stands, in the same place. Nearly opposite, Richard 
Greenwood had a small frame dwelling — still standing. The three 
old stores, on the northwest side of Summit street, fronting the 
head of Vine street, were in course of erection. A brick outside 
was put on them in 1 852, in which they still stand. When Toledo 
was made a city, in 18.37, one of the offices in the second story of 
this block, was used for the City Council room, till changed to the 
present location. Scott & Richardson (Samuel B. Scott and Wor- 
den N. Richardson, both deceased), had a store a little below, to- 
wards Walnut street. 



Lucas Co — Jlecolkctions of Iiichard J/o((. T) !'.» 



A row of stores, belongincc to Edward IJissell, stood on the cor- 
ner of Locust street, where Gcorgi* Welibcr's Mock is. In the sec- 
ond story of this row, Ile/.ekiah I). MasDii liad liis onico. Judjjo 
Mason was recjarded as an old resident, liavinc; come in is:^, f. 

This row was burned in tlie fall ot l^'.ix, the most sickly season 
ever known in Toledo. The city had two tire en^ine-j, built at Wa- 
terford, New York; and, as the weather had been very dry, one of 
the engines (No. 1.) had to be run down the bank of the river for a 
supply of water, forcing it up to the other (No. '2), that was thus 
enabled to throw one little stream. The few men who worked the 
machine, at the river, were soon tired out, and the stream stopped. 
They sent for fresh hands to help work at the brakes, but it was 
next to impossible to find any men who were well inough; the 
almost invariable excuse of every bystander applied to, being, that 
he was just out from a fit of the ague, and was not able to work. 
The well men being fagged out, the stores were destroyed. All 
that could bo done, was to save the near buildings. 

About halfway between Locust and Lagrange sts., was the Mansion 
House ; Wm. Wilmington's residence occujiies the spot. It was a story 
and a lialt' frame, having a long front, and in the rear a barn-like 
addition, used for a dining-room below, with a double row of lodg- 
ing rooms above. It was then kept by James liourne. but soon 
after was taken by Danicd Segur, who continued in it till the follow- 
ing autumn, when the "American Hotel," on tlie corner of P^lra St., 
built by Joseph R. Williams, being completed, Segur moved into 
the latter, which was thou considered as something notable in the 
tavern line — and so it was, and kcjit well. too. 

On the southeast corner of Summit and Lagrange streets, was a 
two-story frame store, belonging to and occupied by Dr. .Jacob 
Clark, the sign over the door being Clark & Beimett. This comer 
was then regarded as about the centre of business, and j^erhaps the 
best stand in the place, till isi;!, when, by the opening of the canal, 
business was mainly drawn towards the Port Lawrence end of the 
town. This old store was afterwards occujiied by Ketcham ifc Snell, 
and it was here that .Toseph K. Secor c >mmenced business life as a 
store boy. It was subsequently taken by Elijah S. Hanks, who re- 
mained till it was l)urned, in 1SH, or I'^l"). 

Lagrange street was graded from Summit street fpretty steeply), 
80 that teams could pass to the dock. Here, on the west side of the 
street, was the worehouse oi Peckham & Co., still standing, now 
owned by P. II. Birckhead. Peckham jS:; Co. did the largest for- 
warding business of the place, most of the steamboats coming in the 
river stopping at their wliarf The members of iho firm were Bun- 
nell H. Peckham, and John Berd.an (.ludge). Mr. Benlan was the 
first mayor of Toledo, elected in the spring of ls;{7. by one vote 
over Andrew Palmer, and re elected in Ih:{s, without organised 
opposition. He died in 1^41. His sons, Peter .and John, of ilie 
w^ll-kiown firm of S cor. Berdan & Co., were then round jacketed 



550 Lucas Co. — Recollections of Iticliard Mott. 



boys. Peckham died in 1866, at Milwaukee, where he had lived for 
several years. 

In the spring of 1836, two other warehouses were put up near the 
foot of Lagrange street, on the east side. The lower one was occu- 
pied by Bissell & Gardner (Frederick Bis^ell and Jos ph B. Gard- 
ner). Mr. Bissell continued in business in Toledo till his death, in 
June, 1870. Gardner was afterwards postmaster, succeeding Judge 
Potter, in 1839. He removed to Buffiilo, and died many years ago. 

The other warehouse was kept first by Poag & Morse, then Poag 
& Titus, and iifterwards by Robert W. Titus, — the latter still living 
in Toledo. John Pong went to New York about 1840, and after a 
few years became one of the firm of Kent, Poag & Co., — grew 
wealthy, invested largely in Toledo real estate, which has turned 
out very advantageously. He returned to Toledo, and died in 1868. 

The same warehouse (the sicond story.) was taken by Titus & 
Co.. from New York, in the spring of 18 8 (Avery and Wa'ter 
Titus), for a dry goods and groceries jobbing establishment. They 
did a good business ; but, trying to carry a load of debt, growing 
out of their New York business in 1837, provi'd too great a burden, 
and, after the deaih of Avery Titus, in 1841. the firm was obliged 
to suspend. Walter is still living in New York. These warehou- 
ses stid remain, and are parts of the Novelty Works establishment. 

Among the pernjanent boarders at the Toledo House, in the 
spring of 1836, were Willard J. Daniels, and William P. Daniels, 
with his wife and two little childi en — son and daughter, the former, 
Chailes, now of Lloyd, Daniels & Dennison, and Helen, now Mrs. 
C. J. Lloyd. Lyman Wheeler was also th' re — then unmarried. Ho 
had recently bought the lot on the corner of Monroe an<l St. Clair 
streets, where the Wheeler Opera llou-e now stands, — at that time 
a very unmviting spot; the swale from Mud creek crossing this lot, 
as well as the opposite corner where the Collins block is, and con- 
tinuing thence along through the whole of the block to the Myers' 
corner, where it crossed Monroe street. 

Wheeler had great faith in the advancement of Toledo, especially 
of the Port Lawrence end of the town. Caleb F. Abbott was also 
there, — a graduate just from Cambridge college, seeking his fortune 
in the west, as Ohio was then consideied to be. Ealph P. Buckland 
(now General Buckland of Fremont), came soon afterwards, on the 
same errand, and remained till in the summer. James M. Comstock 
came about the latter part of March, 1836. His brother, Stephen 
p. Con^stock, had been here since 1832 and was a very old settler 
by that time. Stephen was in fact one of the pioneers, and became 
interested, with Oliver & Williams, in tracts 1 and "Z, which com- 
prised what was known as Port Lawrence, and he was for some 
years the agent for the Port Lfiwrenco Company, in selling lots and 
inducing settlements. He was also postmaster. The latter posi- 
tion he resigned in 1837, being a WiiiSj tQ make way for Judge 
J*otter. Stephea died ifl 1853. 



Lxicm Co. — Recollections of Ricliavd Moit. 551 



Until the spring of 1837, there were no sidewalks any where in 
the place; not even one of a single plnnk. Men wore heavy boots, 
and, in muddy weather, tucked their pantaloons inside, and waded 
boldly through the soft soil. It was quite an undertaking to get 
Irom either end of the town to the post office — then cal ed '• Middle- 
Town." It was useless to attempt wearing India rubber shoes; the 
adhesive character of the mud made a power of suction that would 
draw off rubbers almost at the first step. It was regarded as a 
grand improvement, when, by private subsciiption, a sidewalk of 
two planks in width was laid on the northwest line df Summit street, 
Irom the Toledo House, corner of Perry street, to the American, 
at the corner of P21m street. 

The Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad was in course of construction, 
from Toledo to Adrian, under a charter from the territorial 1 gisla- 
ture of Michigan. Ti.e original plan lor the road was to put down 
wooden rails, of oak studding four inchis square, and draw the cars 
by hor.-es. Even this wou'd have been a great relief and wonderful 
improvement over the m arly impassable reads through the cotton- 
woiid swamp that stretched from Sylvania to Palmyra. 

The work on the road had been driven forward wiih much ener- 
gy, and was well forwaid, c< n,-idering how Tutle means the projec- 
tors had to carry it on. By the time the grading was don ■, the 
stockholders became possessed of more enlarged ideas, and deter- 
mine<l to iron the road and use locomotive power. To be sure, tlie 
Ciimpany had no money to liuy the iron; and railroad bonds, and 
preff'ired stock, and the various devices by which in these days such 
work is got through with, were then unknown. However, by giv- 
ing a liberal bonus in stock, with the obligatii ns < f the Ridlioad 
Company, endors d by some of the directors, and other parties in- 
terested individually, the iron was obtained. But such iron I How 
the railroad men of to day would laugh at the thin straps, f of an 
inch thick, then spiked down on the old railroads. Yet, it was as 
great an improvement over the jirojected wooden rail, as the U and 
T rail over the almost hoop iron then used. In the same way, two 
little locomotives weie pu'chased. and, early in l8o7, a couple of 
old-fashioned, f )ur-wheeled short cars, and some half a dozen freight 
cars of the same size, were runn ng on the road There was but 
little ])racUcal knowledge of the management of railio ids, this being 
the first road in operati n west of Utica. New York. How this 
road was g^t into operation, and kept up, without money or credit, 
can never be fully exp'amed, and perhaps not entirely understood, 
even by the parties whose energy and ])luck — with pnssibly some 
little assurance — carried it along through years of difficulty and em- 
barrassment.''' Very few of the^e men are now living. Among some 

V >hii R. Osborn, Esq., fnrnishcsi the followinsr note: "At Piilniyra, a railroad had been 
pri'jecieM, to run as fur as Jacksoiibiirjr, through the villnfre ofTccuniseh. The same road 
which in Bubsequent years wa* coniplcied a branch of the Mlchl^.an Soathern and Northcni 
Jndiana Railroad, ai d is now known as the Jackeon Branch. 

•• Thle road, ia connection with the Erie and Kalamazoo Road, was projected and underta- 



552 Lucas Co.— Recollections of Richard MotL 



of the conductors on the trains, were Stephen B. Comstock, Robert 
Jeffrey, Frederick Bissell, Charles A. King, and Munson H. Daniels. 

Until the autumn of 1838, almost the entire freighting over the 
road was carrying provisions, as well as goods, into Michigan, prin- 
cipally flour and pork to feed the people, and corn and oats for hor- 
ses and hogs. Michigan did not raise enough for its population, 
owing to the rapid increase of immigration, and was obliged to 
import from Ohio. But, in 1838, this immigration had fallen off, 
and then the road began to be used to bring out the wheat crop, 
which from that time was greatly increased each year. Flour and 
wheat were then teamed from Jackson, Marshall, Battle Creek, Con- 
stantine, and intermediate places, to Adrian, to be brought thence 
by rail to navigable waters, at Toledo. This was continued till the 
construction of Michigan State railroads cut off much of the busi- 
ness that had hitherto sought market outlet by this way. 

The construction and continuance of the Erie and Kalamazoo 
railroad exercised great influence in settling the supremacy of To- 
ledo as the business place at the west end of Lake Erie, over its 
several rival towns. The first railroad oflice was in a little frame 
building, 14x20 feet, put up by Willard J. Daniels for a barber 
shop, on the ground next east of Ketcham, Bond & Co.'s present 

ken by the owners of the main Road, with the assistance of citizens of Tecumseh, Clinton, 
and other places along the route. 

"On the 9th of August, 1838, the road was ready to be opened as far as Tecumseh. At the 
inritation of Mr. Edward Bissell, then the manager of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad, a 
large number of citizens, sufficient to fill one car, took their places for the celebration of the 
event. Sylvania, Blissfield, and Palmyra, each furnished additional recruits. At Tecumseh, 
the to\^Ti was alive with excitement at the auspicious event. Among the Toledoans of the 
period, who participated in the celebration, were Judge Mason, Daniel McBain, C. F. Abbott, 
J. Baron Davis, Judge Myers, George B. Way, J. R.iOsbom, J. Avery Titus, Andrew Palmer, 
G. Weed, and many others. At Tecumseh, the large crowd, greeted by the welcome of the 
people, made their rallying point at the hotel of General Joseph W. Brown, who so shortly 
before had marched his troops upon the banks of the Maumee river, in defiance of the preten- 
sions of Ohio. He prepared for his guests a repast of such generous magnitude, that he 
was not long in winning their grateful recognitions, and, we may add, pardon for any previous 
unpleasantness he had occasioned to Governor Lucas and the Buckeyes. 

"The usual after-dinner speeches and toasts followed, the noticeable one of which was a 
very eloquent and interesting speech of Judge Mason, who had prepared statistics and data to 
show the productiveness of the country, and the capital lying hidden within extensive and fer- 
tile districts, which were now brought into proximity with the lake, and were to pour their 
uncounted riches into the lap of our aspiring city. Among other things, he particularly dwelt 
upon the enterprise which had projected such roads in the State of Michigan, and how far in 
advance the people were here, than in other parts, especially of Ohio, where scarcely a railroad 
had yet been constructed. He stated, also, in his speech, that tho Erie and Kalamazoo Rail- 
road was the first enterprise in America, west of Utica. This enterprise, liowevcr, proved to 
be in advance of the times. The road was just completed to Jacksonburg, and the short dis- 
tance to Tecumseh was not even Ironed with the cheap strap rail of those days, and in a few 
years it was abandoned. Afterwards, in the year 1857, it was taken hold of by the Michigan 
Southern and Northern Indiana Raih-oad Company, and completed in the most substantial 
and thorough manner; and has become one of the princijjal avenues of trade to the city — 
fulfilling, at this late pel iod, the prgphccies of Judge Mason, and the expectations of the 
originators." 



Lucas Co. — Recollections of Hichard Mott 553 



store. A small platform reached from the rear of the office to . the 
track, without any roof, and as much unprotected from the weather 
as are at this day all the stations on the Hudson River Railroad, in- 
cluding Albany. 

P"'or the first year, the track terminated at Monroe street, at the 
head of Water street, crossing the block from about the corner of 
John Mulhany's store to the rear of Roff & Co.'s. During 1837, 
the track was extended along what is now Water street, to the foot 
of Lagrange street, over the water the whole way, piles being driv- 
en to support it, — the line varying from 50 to 200 feet from the then 
line of shore. Water street was not filled in till 1843. 

In 1842, the Toledo House was enlarged by the addition of ano- 
ther story, with great, awkward, M'ooden columns put up in front, 
but considered very grand, and its name changed to that of the 
" Indiana House,'' and was for some years, under its new name, kept 
by Robert N. Lawton, w^ho had previously had charge of the Amer- 
ican. The completion of the Erie and Wabash, and the Miami 
canals, had drawn much of the travel and business towards the 
mouth of Swan creek, making the Indiana House the better loca- 
tion. Much of the travel between New York, and Cincinnati, and 
St. Louis, was by lake from Buiialo, and thence by canal packet 
boat from Toledo. The " packet dock," still retaining the name in 
front of the present St.* Charles Hotel, was then a very lively busi- 
ness spot. Packet lines started from this dock on both canals, gen- 
erally crowded with passengers, there being no competing lines of 
railroad on either side. The packets had for agent at Toledo, Wil- 
liam J. Finlay, who there began his business career. 

The opposite bank of Swan creek terminated in high bluft*, not far 
from the artesian well on Ottawa street. No improvement had then 
been made on that side, the trees extending to the edge of the bank. 
Possibly some of the ladies of Toledo who, when children, attended 
Miss Alice Jenks' school, may remember a May-day pic-nic, given 
to the scholars on the 1st of May, 1844. It was held in the woods, 
out of sight and hearing of the town, in a secluded spot, a few rods 
beyond the present Oliver House. 

A small frame house was standing on the point near the site of 
the Wabash Railroad Car Shops. This belonged to John Baldwin, 
and was the only dwelling on the shore between Swan creek and 
John and George Knaggs. 

What is now known as the ''Middle-Ground/' was a wild rice 
swamp, commencing about opposite the foot of Monroe street. The 
lower end was under water during the fore part of the season, till 
the long grass began to show itself, becoming quite thick by autumn. 
It became shoaler till near the Cleveland railroad bridge, where 
there was land barely above Avater, and a little further south were 
two fishinw stations, used in the spring and autumn. But what soil 
there was above water, was too low and wet for any attempt at 
cultivation. Even then it was foreseen, by some of the residents of 



554 lAicas Co. — Recollections of Ricliard Mott. 



Tolerlo, that this middle-ground would prove to be the right place 
forrailioad purpos/s; but even the sanguine expectations ot that 
day of wi'd speculation, did not anticipate the present business im- 
potance of the location. Even later, when it was brought bi fore 
the managers of the Michigan Southern Kailroad, there was strong 
opp sition to the plan before its adoption. It was feared that the 
expense would be too great, and it was confidently urged that the 
whole could never be wanted. 

In 18;57, Andrew Palmer & Co. put up a warehouse, some 120 
feet northeast Irom Monroe street, and carried on forwarding busi- 
ness in it for some years, the firm being a pait of the time Palmer, 
Bush & Co. This warehouse passed into other hands, and was 
burned in 18-53. Andrew Palmer left Toledo in 184.5, 1'or Wiscon- 
sin, where he i-; still living. Peter Palmer is in Lockport, and the 
other partner, William 11. Bush, i-eturned to New York. 

Two other and larger warehouses were put up in 18.38. e;ich of 
them having three stories. One in the rear of B Medink's furni- 
ture store, — this was burned in 1840. The other, th n belonging to 
Ilc'zekiah D. Mason, is known as the Godard warehouse, and now 
belonging to Young & Backus. 

In 1(S40, the old red waiehouse was built at the corner of Monroe 
an I Water street, originally 40 'eet Iront, but another 40 feet were 
added in 1842,— the whole still standing The Daniels warehouse, 
at the foot of Jeif rson street, dates from 1843. 

The lour stores on the southeast corner of Summit and Monroe 
streets, are the oldest substantial brick structures on either of the 
two streets. They were begun in 1842, and finished during the 
next year. The bliilf at this pl.ce was 20 feet high, and had to be 
dug aw;iy to make room for the I lock. It is said there was a small 
military post [Fort Industry] on this bluff, — a biock house. — proba- 
bly as far back as the lime when the British government held pos- 
session on the river, which they did as late as 17 0. Soon a'ter the 
digging was commenced, two skeletons were found, which, from 
remnants of shoes and buttons, were supposed to have been soldiers 
belonging to the little garrison. 

In the spring of 1844, the corner store was opened by A. Ralston 
& Co. (Alex. Ralston and and Solomon Linsley), as a ('rug store. 
Kalston did not remain long, «hen the firm became S. Linsley & 
Co., which firm was succeeded by West &> Van Stone, the present 
occupants, — the stand having been used in one line, for the same 
business, during the same period. Where Smith & Simmons now 
are, Avas leased by Charles O'Hara for a wholesale grocery. After- 
wards, it was taken by V. II. Ketcham &> Co. for their business, 
which was continued there for some years by their successors, Secor 
& Berdan. The Poag block on the corner of Madison street, was 
put up in 1849 ; and the Deuel block about Ihe same time. 

As early as 1832, attention was turned towards the place wliere 
the Wtjbftsh and Erie Canal and tho Miami Canal, would probably 



Jjiicas Co. — Itecollections of Michard Mott. 



o^o 



enter Lake Erie, or the Maumee river. Not long afterwards, some 
of the mure en'erprising men of Butfalo, who wi'ie engaged in the 
forwarding business on the Erie canal, and owning large vrssel and 
steamboat interests on the like, looking to the fu ther extension of 
their business, became interested near the mouth of the river, where 
is now Manhattan. Among those parties who had planned to make 
Manhattan the business point, was Isaac S. Smith, of the then firm 
of Smiih & Macy, of Buffalo, lie had never seen the proposed 
location, till, in iho year 18iJ4, he came up to look at the prospects 
generally, and then, lor the first time, visited the rival siies, from 
Maumee to Manhattan, lie was not long in perceiving the gener- 
ally eupoiior advantages of Vistula and Port Lawrence, and advised 
his associates to look to these places as the more advisable for their 
purposes. Under his advice. Smith & Macy, and Piatt & Taylor, 
agreed to join in the pu-chase of p'opeity there. Henry W. Hicks, 
of New York, also, was joined w th them equally in the project — 
Smith, acting for the others, sought out Edward Bissell, whose saga- 
city at once giasped th ■ advantages of having such pa' ties for coad- 
jutors. They arianged for a purchase from Oliver & Williams of a 
large interest in the Port Lawrence tracts, also, and then it was 
agreed to unite the two cpposition villages ot Vis'ula and Port 
Lawience, as one town, under the name of Toledo From this 
time the growth of the place was encouraging. It was then all a 
forest, from near Locust street to Jt fie; son street— the original set- 
tlements having been on and near Lagrange street, in Vistula, and 
about the muutli of Swan Creek, in Port Lawrence. These woods 
were cut away, openii g the spice between the two places. The 
next y ar, 1835, the foiest was cut on the low ground, back of Port 
Lawrence, and along the sides of Mud creek. This low ground was 
apparently a swamp, difficult to reclaim; and it remained much 
in that condition till 1>46, when a partially successful attempt was 
made to drain it by a sewer along the line of Oak street, where is 
the present enlarged sewer. 

Mr, Hicks had active capital, and it was used freely in buildings, 
and various improvements, and in giving a start generally The 
project of thii railrnad to Adrian, received a new impetus, and was 
pushed ahead rapidly. The steamboats on the lakes, owned and 
controlled by the two Buffalo firms — Smith &, Macy, and Pratt & 
Taylor — comnienced to stop on the way to Detroit, that being as 
far as they Avere regularly rim. An occasional trip, however, would 
be made to Green I3ay and Chicago— once, pchips, by each boat 
during the season. These boats, on their returns fiom the '' Upper 
Lakes,-' — as Lakes Huron and Michigan were called, — were always 
decked out with evergreens, tied to fiag-stalf, mast head, and bow- 
eprit, as an indication of the fur off regions they had visited. 

Notwithstanding the adhesion of these firms to Toledo, there was 
still a stropg Buffalo interest, backed by capita!, that favored Man- 
hattau, and considerable improvemont was made tbev^i in feuilding, 



556 Lucas Co. — RecoUeciions of Richard Molt. 



wharfing, etc. This influence was kept up for some years for Man- 
hattan, and did not fully die out till 1844, or 1845. One of the 
Toledo forwarders (M. L. Collins,) wa3 given the use of a large 
warehouse in Manhattan, rent free, — this was in 1843, — and several 
canal boats were sent up from the Erie canal, to form a line for him 
to run there. These boats made one trip from Manhattan to Lafay- 
ette and back. Their second trip was from Manhattan and back to 
Toledo. They then went by river to Manhattan, for the third start. 
After that, Mr. Collins quit his free-rent warehouse, and returned to 
Toledo, with his entire line. 

It was not till June, 1836, after the boundary -line dispute between 
Ohio and Michigan had been settled by Congress in favor of the for- 
mer, by which it acquired the strip of land including Toledo and 
Manhattan, that Ohio went energetically at work with her canals 
— the Indiana portion being then nearly finished. Then came 
the struggle for its terminus on the river. Maumee City and Per- 
rysburg, being settlements counting over twenty years' existence, 
had confidently claimed the terminus as the proper and natural one, 
being at the head of navigation. Manhattan urged, in favor of its 
location, nearness to the lake, and consequently more ready acces- 
sibility for sailing vessels, which would not be liable to the tedious 
delays from head winds in the narrow channel of -the river, to the 
towns above it. At this time, most of the freight was carried in 
sailing vessels of 60 to 120 tons, and tugs were unknown and un- 
thought of; so that it would often take as much or more time for 
sailing vessels, with head winds, or none at all, to get from or to the 
mouth of the river to the foot of the rapids, as for the voyage to 
Buffalo. Toledo held that her better harbor, deeper water, — near- 
ness enough to the lake to be reached by sailing craft, even with 
head wind, at any time, — placed her ahead of Manhattan, as did the 
rock bar "near Maumee, and the general shoaling of the river, in 
that direction, place her ahead of the latter i-)lace, and of Perrys- 
burg. 

Another town was started, in the earl^'^ part of 1836, intented to 
obviate the rock bar difhculty. This was Marengo, located some 
three miles below Maumee and Perrysburg, and below the bar. A 
steam saw mill was built — streets laid out — on paper chiefly — and 
some houses and stores put up, and a claim boldly made for the 
place as combining all the advantages of the other villages. Con- 
siderable property changed owners here, on a sort of lottery ven- 
ture. Many residents of Maumee and Toledo, are at this day hardly 
aware that such a place as Marengo ever existed on the river; and 
except by a few of the older ones, its once location could not be 
found, — there being now no sign of town or village, where its site 
was. 

As an offset to Marengo, Stephen B. Comstock, although largely 
interested in the Port Lawrence portion of Toledo, immediately 
made a paper city on river tracts 12 and 13, near the mouth of DeL 



Lucas Co. — Recollections of JRicliard Mott. 557 



aware creek, and some three miles up the river from Toledo, having 
all the public squares, market places, railroad depots etc., so easily- 
made on maps. Drawing from the same line of history, the name 
of Austerlitz was bestowed upon the paper town. Strange as it 
may seem, there was a readiness to invest even in Austerlitz lots, then 
covered by a dense forest, and as bare now of any city indications 
as is Marengo. 

On the south bank of the river, Isaac Street had a town under 
way. Here too Avas a saw mill in operation, bossed by Frederick 
Prentice, — a store, a tavern, and several dwellings, so that the place 
had the appearance of quite a flourishing new settlement. Friend 
Street called his town Oregon. He favored the bringing of the 
canal in on the bayou, near the Michigan Southern Railroad round- 
house, and having this bayou for the canal basin, and then making 
a cut from it to the river about Avhere Mitchell & Kowland's saw 
mill now is. Street was patient and persevering, and held to the 
faith that his town would be a success, till about 1840. There re- 
main as few signs of its location as at either Marengo or Austerlitz. 
Its site is now occupied by the Prentice nursery. 

Many people were drawn into these wild projects, who should have 
have been sagacious enough to have kept clear of them. There seemed 
to prevail an epidemic for buying town lots, that attacked many at 
the sight of a handsomely lithographed map, that was, incurably, 
proof against every remedy other than inevitable experience. 

One of the objections operating strongly against Manhattan, was 
the fact that the channel of the river ran along near the opposite 
bank. So, to obviate this objection some of the believers in the 
theory that great cities, like New York, grew up near the entrance 
of rivers, made a map of Lucas City, supposed to have stood 
where the Manhattan Iron Works now are, — the said map being 
the only existence it ever knew. Yet, here, too, many lots were 
sold, the purchasers doubtless indulging in the Micawber-like hope 
that something might turn up from them. 

In the struggle between the rival towns, it became necessary for 
Toledo and Manhattan to make a common cause, to prevent the 
stopping of the canal at Maumee. Some of the present citizens of 
Toledo had originally cast their fortunes at Maumee, — among them, 
General John E. Hunt, Jesu)) W, Scott, Samuel M, Young, Morri- 
son R, Waite, and others. It is easy to understand how powerful 
were the influences which men of so much ability and energy could 
bring to bear in favor of their own location. Notwithstanding this 
formidable array for ending the canal at the foot of the rapids, the 
down-river parties prevailed, ending in a sort of triple compromise, 
locking the water in at all three of the places — Maumee, Toledo, 
and Manhattan, and bringing it to the two latter, on what was 
called the high level, that they could have the advantage of the wa- 
ter power for milling and manufacturing purposes. By this plan, 
the nominal terminus of the canal was at Manhattan, locking into the 



r 

558 Lucas Co. — Recollections of Micliard Mott. 



river by side cuts at Maumee City, and at Toledo. The Toledo men 
were rat her satisfied at this arrangement,believing that the superiority 
of their location would eventually absorb the whole business, and 
their faith in this respect has been fully justified, by the working 
result. 

It was believed by many at the time, that money was used by the 
down-river parties, in this mattf-r, — that " ring," perhaps, bringing 
to bear more potent arguments than the up-river "ring" produced; 
but this may be placed in the category of the many charges of Brit- 
ish gold as having been used by successful political parties, often 
made after election, by the defeated. 



[From memoranda relating to former political parties, and con- 
flicts, the following are selected :] 

It was during Mr. Edgerton's '^d term in congress, that the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill, — rescinding the Missouri Compromise, was passed, he, 
with several other sng icious d. mocratic members, uniting in determin- 
ed opposition to the measure. They foresaw the probably disastrous 
efiectit could not but have on their party. The party, neverthiless, 
adopting it as a party measure, Edgerton was not re nominated in '.54. 
He however, would not permit his name to be used us a candidate be- 
fore a m ifis convention, ciiled at Defiance in Sept., 18.5+ by the free- 
soilei'S and i^pp nents of the Kansas- Nebraska bill, although urged 
to do so; but, like Potter, remained faithful to his political organi- 
zation. The Defiance mass convention, in 1H54, put in nomination 
Richard Mott. of Tuledo, who, greatly to his own surprise, as well 
as that of the conventiim, was elected. Th s convention had been 
called for the purpose of uniting whatever free so 1 strength there 
might be found to exist in the northwestern part of the btate, and 
with little or n )expec'aiion of overcoming the previously great dem- 
ocratic majority in the district. The Toledo Blade, then owned and 
edited by Jose|ih R. Williams, was grea'ly instrumental in bringing 
about the I'evoluiion that gave the republicans the ascendancy iu 
the dis'rict^, whii h is sfill maintained. The plan ot spreading repub- 
lican or free soil speec! es made in Congress, Avas also actively kept 
up under the frank of ihe ni' mbir who, in this way, flooded the 
district with the fullest information on the subject of slavery, and 
tlms aided m keeping uuimjiaired the republican ascendancy. As 
has been said, the Bla'le, under the management of its able editor, 
was an early and earnest aivoca'e ol" free soil principles, and an efli- 
cient opponent to the slave power, as then known and felt. Wil- 
liams' fearle.-s course soon gained for the paper its character as a 
leading ex()onent of radically liberal principles, and it; became a 
power in the northwest. 

Edgerton's refusal to bolt, in 1854, and his adherence to his party, 
were mainly the causes that procured lor him the nomination in 
1856. The republican ideas had, however, by that time become 



^ ^ 





Lucas County — Willard J. Daniels. 559 



much more prevalent, and even he who had so resolutely opposed, 
throughout, the repeal of the Missouri Ctmprimise, popular and 
able as he was, could not succeed as the randidare of the party 
which had repealed it. From that period, the district has rightly 
been counted upon as sure for the republicans, and of the most rad- 
ical stripe. 

In 1858, James jM. Ashley was nominated and elected, and re-elec- 
ted for each term, till 18GS, and the loss of his election that year 
was owing to other than causes indicating a fulling off in the repub- 
lican strength, as was shown by the result of the election in IS'JO, 

At the earlier ciry elections in Toledo, party lines were not much 
regarded, till, in 1840, the whgs called a convention as such, and 
put up Myron H. Tilden as camiidate for Mayc^-. Immediate opposi- 
tio'i was made to the movement, and another convention was 
called to select a Cimdidate, without reference to politics, which nom- 
inated James M, Whitney, also a Whig, as the citizens' candidate, 
the democrats voting for him en masse, and some Wliigs; but Til- 
den was elected by four votes. From that time, the city ofKcers have 
been generally selected as party candidates, with fluctuating success, 
the Whiles generally holding the ascendancy, till 1845. From that 
time, the democrats, wiih occasioiial defeats, were most of the time 
in power, till IsGl, The republican succiss since then, in the city, 
is much indebted to the German poi)nlation, a large portion of 
whom seem to have attached themselves to the party as upholding 
advaaced and radical views, in sympathy with their own. 



WILLARD J. DANIELS, 



The subject of this sketch was born in Addison County, Ver- 
mont, in May, 1813, and first visited Toledo in the autumn of 183"2. 
When he came to the place, he was in his lUth year. He entered 
into the mercantile business with his brother, the late Munson H. 
Daniels, in a store on the corner of Summit and Ligrange stnets. 
In the following year {18."53), he ))urchased of S. B. Co i. stock, agent 
of the Port Lawrence company, the east 20} feet of Lot No, 10, in 
the Port Lawrence Division, for which he paid twenty-five dollars 
in goods— this being the first real esiate purchase he ever made. On 
this lot he erected a store. At the same time he purchased Lot 19 
for fifty dollars ; also, GO feet on Summit, and 100 feet in the rear of 
dock front on the river (ihe former being the lot recently occupied 
by Bionsou & Mes.-iiiger, ior their tobacco store) for seventy five 
dollars; also, about the same time, Lot 44, corner of Monroe and 
St. Clair streets, for fifty dollars, and many other lots, in the Port 
Lawrence Division, at ]jroportionate rates. Ilis aim, in real estate 
purchases, was to get as near the mouth of Swan creek as possible. 
In 1836, in company with his brother, R. C. Daniels, they erected a 



560 Lucas County — Willard J. Daniels. 



three-story brick store on lot twelve, corner of Summit and Monroe 
streets — the ground now being occupied by Lenk's block. 

Willard J. and Munson H. Daniels erected the first wooden store, 
adjoining the Toledo House. They paid $25 for the lot, No. 10 of 
26 feet front, which would now sell readily for $20,500. 

At the meeting of the Vistula and Port Lawrence interests, here- 
tofore referred to, called lor the purpose of consolidating the inter- 
ests of the two towns, the question of a name for the places thus to 
be united, was a subject of debate. Several names were proposed, 
when finally Mr. Daniels suggested that of " Toledo," — having de- 
rived some knowledge from historical reading of this old capital of 
Spain. There then being no city or town having this name upon 
this continent, was one of the strongest reasons for its adoption ; 
and here it may be proper to insert the following trom Appleton's 
Cyclopaedia, Vol. XV.: 

" Toledo was the ancient capital of Spain. It stands upon a rocky 
height, upon three sides of which the river flows in a deep and nar- 
row channel, crossed by two stone bridges about one hundred feet 
in height, one of Avhich was built by the Moors. The surrounding 
country is undulating, and generally barren, and the heat in summer 
is very great. The appearance of the city is remarkably pictur- 
esque. The cathedral, founded in 1258, stands in the centre of the 
town, and is one of the finest in Spain. It is of the purest Gothic 
style, 404 feet long, and 204 feet wide, with a spire 324 feet high. 
The palace of the Archbishop (who is the Primate of Spain,) adjoins 
the cathedral, and contains a library very rich in ancient manu- 
scripts. The Alcazar, or royal palace, is in a very dilapidated state. 
The principal manufactures are woollen and silk goods, oil, leather, 
and the sword blades for which the town is so famous. The swords 
of Toledo attained great celebrity in the time of the Moors. Ac- 
cording to tradition, Toledo was founded by Jewish colonists, in the 
sixth century B. C, and called Toledom, 'mother of people.' It was 
taken by the Romans in 192 B. C, and some portion of the walls, 
and an ampitheatre, erected by them, still remain. It was taken by 
the Goths in A. D. 467, and made the capital of Spain in 567. The 
Moors captured it in 711, and under them it made great advances. 
Alfonse VI., of Castile, and Leon, Avrested it from the Moors, after 
a terrible siege, in 1085, when it was again made the capital of the 
Christian kings, and, at one time, had a population of 200,000. It 
afterward suffered many sieges, which, together with the removal of 
the Court to Madrid, have been the chief causes of its decline." 

In the summer of 1834, Mr. Daniels erected a warehouse on the 
100 feet dock purchase above mentioned, and in 1835-30, erected 
the Palmyra Mills, near Adrian, Michigan. In 1836, during the 
Presidential contest between Van Buren and Harrison, Mr. Daniels 
and Judge Potter were joint proprietors of the Toledo Blade, and 
their money saved the paper from suspension, and continued it for 
several months, in the local interests of the place. Subsequently the 





^^^^^^^-^--^s^^^tl-^ 



Lucas County — Frederick Prentice. 561 

establishment passed into tiie hands of Fairbanks & Willard, two 
young printers from Detroit. Fairbanks has been, during many 
years, one of the editors and proprietors of the Cleveland Herald. 

The first school house in Toledo was built in 1834, at the expense 
of Willard J. Daniels, Stephen B. Comstock, and iStephen Bartlett. 
It yet stands on the ground near tlie African church. The first 
school teacher was Mrs. Munson H. Daniels. Her maiden name was 
Harriett Wright, and she was a niece of Silas Wright, of New York. 
The first Court of Lucas county was held in this school building. 

In January, 1838, Mr. Daniels married Miss Caroline Walbridge, 
of Toledo, who died in the fall of 1849; and in December, 1855, 
(having, in the meantime, in the fall of 1853, removed to Lockport, 
New York,) married, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miss Isadore E. 
Hopkins. 

As a member of the City Council, a director of the Erie & Kala- 
mazoo Railroad, and in all the public schemes that affected the in- 
terests of Toledo, Mr. Daniels has taken a prominent part. He yet 
holds large real estate interests in Toledo, and in Lockport, New 
York, the city of his present residence. Although, at the age of 
fifty-nine, his mental and bodily vigor exhibit no signs of decay, and 
he appears as ready to engage in private or public enterprise as 
when he commenced his business career in Toledo forty years ago. 



FREDERICK PRENTICE. 

Joseph Prentice and family removed from Brooklyn, New York, to 
Ashtabula, Ashtabula county, Ohio, probably in 1814, and remained 
here a short time; and from thence to the mouth of Swan Creek — 
making the trip from Ashtabula to the Maumee with sledges on the 
ice; stopping at nights at Indian towns, as there were then few 
white settlements on the shore, between the two points. 

Soon after his arrival, Mr. Prentice connected himself with the 
Cincinnati Company, composed of Major Oliver, Micajah T. Wil- 
liams, and others, the original proprietors of the old "upper town," 
and took charge of their building arrangements. He erected the 
first warehouse [described elsewhere in the reminiscences of Richard 
Mottj, also the first frame dwelling house in Toledo. His residence 
was first in the warehouse, and then into the dwelling above men- 
tioned. The latter building was only a few rods frorn the former, 
and the ground is now occupied by the block embracing the num- 
bers 33, 35, 37, and 39 Summit street. It was at his suggestion that 
the town at the mouth of Swan Creek was named Port J^awrence, in 
honor of the gallant naval officer who bore that name; and here it 
may not be out of place to mention that Swan Creek, according to 
the statement of Mr. Prentice, was so named by the Indians, in con- 
sequence of the numerous swan that, every spring and autumn, 
reveled upon its bosom. 



562 Lucas County — Frederick Prentice. 



The precise date at which Mr. Prentice reached Toledo cannot, by 
reason of a destruction by fire of certain manuscripts, be given ; but 
it was a brief period subsequent to the war of 1812. 

It was in the first fi;ame house erected in Toledo, above referred 
to, that Frederick Prentice, on the Gth of December, 1822, was born; 
being the first white child born in Poit Lawrence, now Toledo. 

In his settlement with the company, Mr. Joseph Prentice selected 
the southwest portion of the tract on the east side of the river, to 
which he removed with his family in about 1825, and where they 
resided until his death, which occurred May Gth, 1845, at the age of 
64 years; that day being also the anniversary of his birth. Mrs. 
Eleanor Prentice, his widow, remembered by the old society of the 
lower portion of the valley as a most estimable and exemplary lady, 
survived her husband about ten years. 

There is not, probably, in the Maumee Valley, a gentleman whose 
business experience has been attended with fluctuations so marked, 
and yet so generally t-uccessful, as that which has characterized the 
business career of Frederick Prentice. During his boyhood, there 
yik^v^i no schools nearer than the river Raism, or Fort Wayne ; and 
consequently his means of education, other than the instruction im- 
parted by his mother, were very limited. At the age of thirteen 
years, his father brcame physically infirm, by reason of a sprain in 
the back, caused by a fall ; and this misfortune imposed upon Frede- 
rick, mere boy that he wa.«, almost the entire support of the family; 
but the rough life he had led made him more of a man, and better 
fitted fur the responsibilities he had assumed, tlian many others 
wbose years alone indicated manhood. As pork was $60 per barrel, 
flour from $'25 to $30, calico from 60 to 75 cents per yard, and labor 
only 50 to 75 cents per day, for able-bodied men, the self-imposed 
task of supporting his parents and himself by days' work, seemed 
greater than even his stout heart could bear. 

Having been, from infancy, associated with Indians — an Indian 
woman having been his nurse — he had acquired even a better knowl- 
edge of their language than of the English. He therefore addressed 
himself to the business of interpreter for Indian agents and traders, 
and also to hunting and fishing ; and from these several occupations 
he derived sufficient means to maintain his family in comfortable 
circumstances — receiving, however, the efficient aid, as Mr. Prentice 
says, of one of the best mothers, house-keepers, and cooks, that ever 
blessed a son. 

As good a hunting ground as the country then affbrded, was on and 
around the place now within the city plat of Toledo, where he states he 
has killed many a deer, wild turkey, and other game. The neighbor- 
hood where now stands the Oliver House, appeared e&pecially to be a 
favorite haunt for deer. In these pursuits, and attending school 
winters, he continued, until he had attained the age of 18 years, 
when he engaged in the business of supplying the Toledo market, 
and river steamboats, with wood, and also hewn ship timber for the 





4J. "^ 



lyo-^C^^ S^2/¥c<.^5f 



Lucas County — Gen. John E. Hunt. 563 



New York and other markets. He also made extensive purchases 
of wild land, taking the timber oflf, and then selling, in limited 
tracts, to actual settlers, — a policy that proved not only advantageous 
to purchasers^ but hastened the development of the region on the 
southeast side of the river, embracing a district of six or seven miles 
eastward and southward, within which hmit more than one-half the 
land was, originally, or is now, held by him ; and many, on tliat side 
the river now in opulent worldly circumstances, acknowledge their 
indebtedness to Mr. Prentice for his forbearance, and monetary aid, 
at a time when his friendship was of the highest value to them. 

Like most business men, who have been engaged in enterprises of 
considerable magnitude, Mr. Prentice, at one time of life (1857), met 
Avith financial reverses, which made it necessary that he compromise 
with his creditors; and although the disaster was caused chiefly by 
endorsements, after he recuperated, some five or six years later, he 
notified his old creditors that, although there had been a legal set- 
tlement of their claims, he felt under moral obligations to abandon 
the terms of compromise, and pay the full value of all their claims, 
with ten per cent, interest on deferred payments. His action in this 
matter, as well as a similar one on the part of Mr. William II. liay- 
mond (now in California), afford instances of commercial honor 
that will constitute a bright page in the business history of Toledo. 
Although, within the last few years, Mr. Prentice has been highly 
favored by fortune; and although other commercial cities of greater 
present importance, offer larger and richer bounties for his enter- 
prise ; and although, from his ample means, he could find excite- 
ment and interest in travel, and sojourn in the gay capitals of the 
world; — he yet prefers Toledo, his native place — his old home — 
sanctified by early struggles, and rendered dear beyond all other con- 
siderations, by the presence of old friends, who were witnesses of 
the rugged pathway he travelled in early life. 

Among his late purchases is a delightful home, formerly the prop- 
erty of the late Truman II. Iloag, situated within 200 feet of the 
site of the old homestead of Major B. F. Stickney. In this delight- 
ful mansion, the best now in Toledo, Mr. Prentice will probably 
spend the remainder of his days. 



JOHN" ELLIOTT HUNT. 

The fatlier of the subject of this sketch was the late Colonel Thom- 
as Hunt, of the First Regiment United States Infantry, lie was a 
volunteer, and took part in the battle of Lexington, and also ren- 
dered service at the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wounded. 
Subsequentlv, under General Anthony Wayne, at the storming of 
the British fort at Stony Point, on the Hudson, he received a bayo- 
net wound in the calf of his leg, and was promoted for good conduct 
on that occasion; and, in 1793, he received his commission from 



564 Lucas County — Gen. John E. Hunt. 



President Washington, as Major, and afterwards, from President Jef- 
ferson, as Lieut. Colonel and Colonel of the same regiment. St. Clair 
maintained that, if he had had this well-disciplined and gallant First 
Eegiment in his army, at the critical moment, his disastrous surren- 
der would not have occurred. 

Colonel Hunt was in command of Fort Defiance eighteen months 
after the battle of the Fallen Timbers. In 1T9G, he was ordered to 
the command of Fort Wayne, which post he held until 1798, when 
he was transferred to Detroit to succeed Colonel Hamtramck, after 
the death of the latter otficer. In June, 1803, he was ordered with his 
regiment from Detroit to St. Louis. His regiment landed at Fort 
Industry [now Toledo], and passed a night here, on its route to St. 
Louis. Fifteen miles from the latter place he built the cantonment 
on the bank of the Missouri, where, after three years, he died. Him- 
self and Avife, Eunice, are buried there, at a place called Bellefontaine. 

General John E. Hunt is the oldest native citizen in the Maumee 
Valley — having been born within the enclosure of Fort Wayne, 
April 11, 1798. His earlier years were chiefly spent with a senior 
brother, Henry Hunt, a merchant of Detroit. He was there at the 
time of Hull's surrender, and a witness of that humiliating specta- 
cle. Though only fourteen years of age, no one, whether soldier or 
citizen, felt more deeply the insult to our country, involved in the 
imbecile conduct of Hull. 

He was married at the house of Governor Lewis Cass, Detroit, the 
29th of May, 1822, to Miss Sophia Spencer, daughter of Dr. Spencer, 
of Connecticut. 

General Hunt has several hundred manuscript pages embodying 
his personal reminiscences of the Northwest, which contain histori- 
cal matter of much interest, and which should be, at a future time, 
published. T'rom these reminiscences, the following is extracted : 

"Jack Brandy (a Shawanee Indian), while conveying Winchester, 
as his prisoner, to Proctor's camp, captured Whittmore Knaggs, the 
old Pottamatomie agent, and father of George and James Knaggs. 
Some time before the war, Knaggs had caused Jack to be flogged 
for some oflence, and ascertaining who had taken him, supposed, as 
a matter of course, that he would be slain. Jack re-assured him 
with promises of safety. Before they arrived at the camp, they were 
met by a band of Pottawatomies, who, with upraised tomahawks, 
rushed towards Knaggs. Jack stepped between them and his pris- 
oner — told them they must kill him before they killed Knaggs, and 
thus saved him from massacre. 

" This same Jack Brandy, a few days before the massacre of Rai- 
sin, in conversation with Harry Hunt, of Detroit, told him, that, if 
occasion ever oflered, he would be kind to the Yankees, and bring 
any that might fall into his hands safely to Detroit. This promise 
he so far fulfilled, as to drag from the buildings at the river Raisin 
massacre, a large Kentuckian, named John Green, who had been 
wounded in the engagement. Wrapping him carefully in his blan- 



Lucas County — Gen. John E. Hunt. 565 



ket, he laid lum in his carryall, and started on a trot for Detroit. — 
The next morning, Hunt saw Jack drive np in front of the town, 
and with one or two friends went to see him. 

" ' Well, Jack,' he enquired, ' have you brought us some venison, 
to-dav ?' 

" ' YeSj Harry Hunt,' replied the Indian, throwing the blanket off 
his captive; 'good Yankee venison. I told you Jack Brandy can- 
not lie.' 

'' Mr. Hunt purchased the liberty of Green, took hira to his house, 
and afterwards restored him to his friends, who, supposing he was 
slain, enlisted under Harrison to avenge his death. 

"Some time before the close of the war, Harry Hunt bought a 
fine horse, which was stolen soon after, by a band of Pottawatomies. 
On entering his store, a day or two afterwards, Hunt encountered 
Jack Brandy, who, observing the seriousness of his countenance, 
enquired a^ to the cause. On being informed, Jack replied: 'may 
be me get him again,' and mounted his pony, and started in pursuit. 
He soon struck the trail of the Pottawatomies, and came up with 
them two days afterwards, and camped with them, and told them he 
had a special mission to the Indians near Chicago, which had an 
important bearing upon the war. This pleased his entertainers, and 
they told him about the 13ne horse they had got. Jack, upon the 
plea of urgent business, bantered them for a trade, promising, if, on 
trial, the horse proved to be good, to pay the difference between him 
and his pony. At daylight, the h(5T-se, with saddle and bridle, was 
brought up for Jack to prove. He bestrode him, rode a short dis- 
tance in the direction of Chicago, struck into rhe woods, and that 
was the last his Indian friends saw of him. The next day he rode 
into Detroit at top of speed, and surrendering the horse to his own- 
er, repeated, most emphatically: 

" ' There, Harry Hunt, I tell you once more, Jack Brandy can- 
not lie!' 

'•The horse was afterwards sold to General Proctor for one hun- 
dred guineas, and on this beast this representative of the ' chivalry' 
of Great Britain made his escape at the Thames. 

" Ottuso, the grand nephew of Pontiac, captured Captain Baker, 
of the irth Infantry, at the battle of the river Raisin. On his return 
to Detroit with his prisoner, accompanied by his son, Wa-se-on-o- 
quet, he encamped the first night at Huron river. He ordered the 
boy to make a fire. The young man asked why the 'Yankee dog' 
could not do it? 

'" My son,' answered Otussa, 'such language is wrong. This pris- 
oner is a chief among his own people. We must treat him as we 
%vould wish to be treated, under like circumstances.' 

" Ottuso obeved this golden rule, aud took the best care of his pris- 
oner. Baker w'as sent to Quebec, but exchanged in time to join Har- 
rison's array, and take part in the battle of the Thames. 

" The day after the return of the army from the Thames to De- 



566 Lucas County — Gen, John E. Hunt. 



troit, a band of Indians, with a white flag, was seen to emerge from 
the wilderness in the rear of the town. Harrison ordered Captain 
Baker to treat with them. He approached them, and recognized in 
their leader his old captor and friend, Ottuso. The meeting between 
them was highly affecting. Baker did not fail to repay, fourfold, 
the favors which had been bestowed upon him by the noble Indian." 

General Hunt first engaged in the mercantile business at Maumee 
City, in 1816 ; during the year J 817 treaties were made at the foot of 
the rapids. His business partner was the late Eobert A. Forsyth. 
-It would suprrise many, if they would meet them, to discover the 
number of those who are now wealthy farmers, bankers, etc., who 
cheerfully acknowledge that they were indebted to General Hunt 
for stocks of goods on credit, which gave them their first start in 
business life, at a time when they had no money, and could procure 
credit from no other quarter. His mercantile life embraced a period 
altogether of twenty years. 

No one was more prominent than General Hunt in eflbrts to has- 
ten the development of the Maumee Valley. Every scheme of im- 
portance, having this object in view, could not fail to have his pow- 
erful support. A banking and internal improvement project, origi- 
nated with him in 1833, which, at the time, evinced a correct idea 
of the future commercial value of some point on the lower Maumee. 
This was a proposition to obtain, from the Territorial Legislature of 
Michigan, a charter authorizing a company to construct a railroad 
from Adrian to Toledo — conferring, also, upon the company bank- 
ing powers. The General enlisted in his enterprise, Mr. E. C. Win- 
ters, then a school teacher at Maumee City, but afterwards a resi- 
dent of Adrian, whom he persuaded to visit Detroit, and use his 
efforts to obtain from the Legislature a charter. Mr. Winters was 
successful in his mission, and this, really, was the origin of the Erie 
and Kalamazoo railroad. The Kalamazoo bank also derived its au- 
thority from this charter. It was the design of General Hunt to 
tap this road at a bend four miles east of Sylvania, by a branch lead- 
ing into Maumee City, under the conviction that the branch would 
ultimately constitute part ot the main line. 

In 1835, having received the Democratic nomination, he was elect- 
ed to the State Senate over Patrick G. Goode, his Whig opponent, 
in a District that gave, at the preceding election, a whig majority of 
1,600. His majority in this contest was 180. In 1839, he was re- 
elected by a yet larger majority. 

In 1849, a Democratic Convention for the Senatorial District com- 
posed of the counties of Lucas, Wood, Henry, Ottawa, and San- 
dusk}', was called, to be held at Woodville, for the purpose of nomi- 
nating a candidate for the Convention, to frame a new Constitution 
for Ohio. General Hunt had no wish or desire to be a candidate. 
On the other hand, he had freely expressed to his friends his pref- 
erence for the nomination of the late D. O. Morton, of Toledo. 
Upon the assembling of the Convention at Woodville, General Hnnt 



Lucas County — Gen. John E. Hunt. 56*7 



was made chairman. The candidates presented to the Convention, 
were D. 0. Morton, of Lucas; W. V. Way, of Wood, and Samuel 
Hollinshead, of Ottawa. An obstinate contest, continuing through 
several hours, between the friends of these gentlemen, failed to make 
a choice. The convention and the candidates became impatient, and 
anxious to conclude the business they Avere assembled to perform. 
In this temper, pervading all, I. K. Seaman, of Sandusky, without 
consultation, or prompting, took tlie floor, and moved that General 
John E. Hunt be nominated by acclamation. The chairman prompt- 
ly declared the motion out of order, and that it could not be enter- 
tained — alleging, among other reasons, that the rules adopted by the 
convention for its government, prescribed that the vote for candi- 
dates should be by counties, and by ballot. Mr, Seaman appeared 
to falter for an instant, but General Brown, of Toledo, came to his 
aid — seconded his motion, and insisted that it was competent for 
the convention to rescind or suspend its own rules; — and that, there- 
fore, as a Mass Convention, the chairman being temporarily deposed, 
he would himself put the question, "Shall General John E. Hunt 
be declared, by this convention, the nominee of the Democratic 
party, of this District, for a seat in the Constitutional Ci nvention? 
Those in favor of this motion say aye" And the shout of " aye" 
was unanimous — joined in by delegates and the late cnndidates alike 
— the only protestant being the Presid nt of the Convention, thus 
summarily deposed, and so unexpectedly, but flatteringly, nomina- 
ted. The defeated aspirants severally pledged thpm.«elvt'S to the sup- 
port of the nominee — and on*:' of them, Mr. Hollinshtad, w( n^ so 
far, in the moment of his ( nthusiasm, as to say that his county uf 
Ottawa would more than double its usual Democratic majority, itnd 
would give Hunt 150. Extravngant as this pledge then app( ared, 
Ottawa did give the General over 200, and it occurred from the fact 
that an influential farmer, named Hartshorn, then a resident of 
Ottawa county, hut regarding: whose exist nee, or place of residence. 
General Hunt had no knowledge for a Ions: period of time, haj)- 
pened to identify the name of General J(»hn E. Hunt as the one to 
whom he was indebted for having saved his life during a pissage 
through the Black Swamp, thirty odd years ))revious, and he at once 
actively took the field, and was chiefly instru:nental in producing 
the result in Ottawa county, above slated. The opportunity and 
method thus sought to dischaige an old obligation, was as honora- 
ble to Mr. Hartshorn, as it was gratifying to the feelings of General 
Hunt. 

His first Senatorial District embraced nearly one-sixth the area of 
the State, and the amount of local legislation demat'.deil by this 
sparsely settled region, was very large, but faithfully attended to. 
During his service, vital measures relating to the canals, and other 
improvements of value to the Northwest, were before the legislature. 
It was on the motion of General Hunt, before the contracts for the 
oaaal construction were let, that a resolution was adopted instruct- 



568 Lucas County — Morrison R. Waite, 



ing the Board of Public Works to make the Wabash and Erie canal, 
from its intersection with the Miami Extension canal, to its junc- 
tion with the Manmee bay, sixty feet in widtli and six feet deep, — 
thus greatly facilitating navigation, and securing the vuluable water 
power since enjoyed by Maumee City and Toledo. In 1835-37, 
General Hunt, as a member of the Ohio Senate, successfully exerted 
his influence to procure an appropriation of 11,500,000 for the ex- 
tension of the Miami Canal to the Maumee Bay; and had not this 
appropriation been made at that session, the probabilities are that 
the work would have been postponed indefinitely, as the financial 
revulsion that occurred a year or two later, would have defeated any 
proposition to undertake new enterprises. Tiie appropriation of 
$30,000 for the Western Eeserve and Maumee road, Avhich was the 
first bridge over the Black Swamp, also i-eceived his efficient aid. 

In 1848, General Hunt was elected Treasurer of Lucas county, 
and in 1850 re-elected. Before the close of his second term, he was 
appointed by President Pierce postmaster at Toledo, and re-appoint- 
ed by President Buchanan. To all his public trusts he was ever 
faithful, and commanded the full confidence of tlie people, of all 
parties. 

One of the sources of the remarkable power exercised by General 
Hunt over the minds of cultivated as well as rude men, existed in 
his excellent social qualities. Although born and reared in a wilder- 
ness country, and his business dealings being chiefly with Indians, 
and semi-civilized wliite men, he has ever illustrated, in his transac- 
tions with mankind, the fact that he was, by birth, habit and instinct, 
a GENTLEMAN, in the highest definition of the word, and qualified, 
by his manners, to adorn any position in the most cultivated diplo- 
matic and social circles. His physical vigor is remarkable. Time 
makes no visible inroad upon his features; and between the produc- 
tions of the faithful artist who took his likeness thirty years ago, and 
the one who executed his work on yesterday, it would puzzle his old 
friends to detect the difference between the two. 



MORRISON R. WAITE. 

This gentleman was born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29, 
1816, and graduated at Yale College, in 1837. He studied law with 
his father, Hon. Henry M. Waite, who had been elected Judge of 
the Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut, in 1833, and subse- 
quently became Chief Justice of that Court. 

The subject of this sketch removed to Maumee City, Ohio, in 
October, 1838, and resumed law studies in the office of Samuel M. 
Young, and was admitted to the Ohio bar in October, 1839. Pre- 
vious to his admission, he had formed a law partnership with his 
preceptor, Mr. Young, which continued until the first of January, 
1854. He had removed to Toledo, however, in the summer of 1850. 




.' ) 



i^tf- m 





^^iX^oC/ 




) 





Lucas County — Morrison JR.. Waitc. 569 



In 1858, the existing partnership -with liis brother, Richard "Waite, 
was formed. 

On the 21sfc of September, 1840, he was married to Miss Amelia 
C. Warner, of Lyme, Connecticut. 

Mr. Waite was elected as a Whig to the General Assembly 
of Ohio in the fall of 1849, in a legislative district then opposed 
to him in politics. This was the only political office ever held by 
him; — law, rather than politics, having always been his chosen 
field. 

In November, 1871, he was appointed one of the counsel of the 
United States before the Tribunal of Arbitration, at Geneva, Swit- 
zerland, convened to adjust the claims of the United States against 
Great Britain, known as the Alabama claims— an appointment that 
reflected credit upon the administration that tendered it, unsought, 
and this selection was generally regarded by the bar and people of 
the Maumee Valley as a just recognition of the forensic and moral 
worth of one of their most eminent and cherished citizens. 

If it may be granted that any of the profession were " to ihe 
manner born," as a lawyer, it may as justly be said of Mr. Waite, as 
of any of his cotemporaries, that he was thus created. Ilis early 
predilections for the law were perhaps inherited from his father, 
who was one of the most distinguished jurists of Connecticut. 

On the 5th of November, 1872, Mr. AVaite landed at New York, 
on his return home from his mission. A committee, in anticipation 
of his arrival, had been sent forward to meet him in New York, and 
escort him to his home. The party reached Toledo on Saturday, 
November 9, and the reception ceremonies were published in the 
Toledo Blade, of that date, and are here copied: 

"This morning, under a clear, beautiful sky, our city presented an 
appearance similar to that of a holiday, and flags and decorations 
streamed from many of the buildings on Summit street. The eleven 
o'clock train from the east, as if to tone down the enthusiasm of 
the people, kept the reception waiting some twenty minutes, but the 
delay was not a serious one. As was anticipated, the train bore the 
Hon. M. R. Waite and wife, with the escorting committee appointed 
to meet them in New York. Mr. Waite was at once conducted to 
an open carriage, in which he was placed with his honor, jMayor 
Jones, Mr. Samuel M. Y^oung, his iormer law partner in business, 
and Jesup W. Scott. Several other carriages were tilled with the 
committees of escort and reception, the committee appointed by the 
Board of Trade, and the remainder of the party from New York. 
They were preceded by the Walbridge Zouaves, ahd Toledo Cadets, 
headed by Milverstedt's band, and on reaching the Boody Hou?e, 
the columns of military faced inward, and presented arms as Mr. 
AVajte's carriage passed between the lines. 

"Mr. Waite was at once escorted to the St. Clair street balcony, 
of the Boody House, from which the party looked down on a vast 
concourse of people, who had assembled in the streets below. The 



570 Lucas County — Morrison M, Waite. 



assembly was then called to order by General Lee, who announced 
the order of exercises, and requested the quiet attention of the audi- 
ence, ' except when they felt like shouting, when they were to 
shout !' 

"Mayor Jones then presented himself, and spoke as follows: 

"'Mr. Waite : In the name and on behalf of all the citizens of 
Toledo, I extend to you a cordial welcome home. 

"*A little less than a year ago, when it was announced that you, 
sir, a citizen of our city, had been selected as one of three distin- 
guished counsel to present our long disputed claim against Great 
Britain for arbitrament before one of the most learned and august 
tribunals the world had ever seen, we naturally felt a just pride in 
so distinguished an honor. If, sir, we were proud of the selection, 
with how much greater satisfaction do we hail the achievements 
which you and your illustrious associates have won in that great 
trial for the honor and glory of our country, and the cause of human 
peace everywhere. 

" 'The proceedings of that great tribunal have attracted the atten- 
tion of the whole civilized world, and constitute an epoch in history; 
and we believe that it will exercise a potent influence for good in all 
coming time, in substituting reason against force, peace against war. 
This conflict, in which you have borne so distinguished a part, will 
become one of the landmarks of our Christian civilization, and we 
may safely leave the verdict to tlie impartial judgment of mankind. 

'' ' Our city is justly proud of the intellectual achievements, which 
you, as one of her sons, have gained in that great contest,'and again, 
in her behalf, I bid you w Icome back among your old friends and 
neighbors. Thrice welcome liome!' 

"■' As soon as the applause which greeted Mr. Waite, as he stepped 
forward, had subsided, he replied briefly to the Mayor's address of 
welcome. The following is a synopsis : 

"He thanked thm for thi'ir kind reception. A little less than a 
year ago, they had bidden him God speed on the mission he had 
then undertaken. More than once, since that time, he had asked 
himself, ' will the friends I It fr, be my friends when I return ?' This 
demonstration convinced him that his friends were still here, and that 
they had by no means forgotten him. 

" It was not expected that he would enter into any detailed state- 
ment of the proceedings at Geneva. The Tribunal there assembled had 
rendered an honest judgment, which had been reached after a patient 
and careful examination of the facts, by men willing and anxious to 
do right. In time. Great Britain herself would acknowledge its 
justice. It was not surprising that she should now manifest impa- 
tience. 8he had been charged with a neglect of her international 
obligations, and upon the trial it had been found that the charge 
was true. 

'■' He believed that a great step had been taken towards the set- 
tlement of national disputes by arbitration : a Jong stride towards 






:^.^. 





•^>AmA/) 



-, \^-o-f^-uyi4A7l7^ 



Lucas County — Dr. Horatio Cmiant. 571 



the era of universal peace. We might not live to see the day when 
there would be no more war, but he thought we might witness the 
time when, before resorting to the power of the sword, nations 
would at least attempt to settle their disputes by peaceful arbitra- 
tion. Great Britain was the first to consent to be tried by such a 
Tribunal, upon a charge of neglect in the performance of her duties 
as one of the family of nations, and the United States the tirst to 
seek redress in this way for such a wrong. The world would give 
them each full credit for the example which they, in the midst of 
their power, had thus put forth for the imitation of others. 

" After giving expression to the satisfaction he f^lt in being once 
more with his neighbors and friends, and again thanking them for 
the cordial reception given him, j\Ir. Waite withdrew inside the 
hotel, where a lengthy season of hand-shaking closed the proceed- 
ings." 

Mr. Waite is now in the prime of life, and of useful activity; and 
it may be reasonably assumed that higher honors than even those he 
has yet attained, await him in the line of his profession. 



DR. HORATIO GOXAXT, OF MAUMEE CITY, 

Was born at Mansfield, Connecticut, the 25th of November, 1785. 
He received the degree of A. B., in 1810, at Middlebury College, and 
in 1813 the degree of M. A. He was engaged two and a half yearg, 
as tutor in the College. He studied anatomy at Malone, New York, 
with Dr. Waterhouse. In 1815, he visited Detroit, and spent the 
winter with his brother, a merchant; and, in 1810, with Almon 
Gibbs, opened a stock of goods on the north side of the river, oppo- 
site Fort Meigs. At this period, the country on both sides of the 
river was known as Fort Meigs. Continuing mercantile business 
about one year, he commenced the practice of medicine ; and, al- 
though at different periods he held several official positions, such as 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; postmaster, collector of the 
port, justice of the peace for nearly half a century, and the ofhce of 
county clerk after the organization of Lucas county, he made his 
profession his chief business. His professional visits extended up 
the Maumee river to Defiance, embraced all the country below ; 
north to the river Raisin, and east and south to the Portage river, 
and Blanchard's fork ; and on one occasion as high up the Maumee as 
Fort Wayne. In one instance, in making a horseback trip to Defi- 
ance, he swam no less than eight streams. At Defiance he left his 
horse and purchased a canoe, in which he floated down to his home. 

When he first came to Maumee City, in 18IG, there was one phy- 
sician in practice, a Dr. Barton, who only remained about one year. 

In December, 1817, he married Mrs. Eliza Forsyth, widow of Cap- 
tain Forsvth. In 1828, Mrs. Conant died, and, in 1832, Dr. C. again 
married iiv%. Eunice Upton, who is yet his wife, The doctor now. 



572 Lucas County — Jesup W. Scott. 



at the age of 87 years, is probably the oldest citizen of Lucas county; 
and of all his professional cotemporaries, in practice in 1816-17, 
whether in Ohio, Indiana, or Michigan, and then known to him, not 
one is now living. His life has been one of remarkable activity, and 
although in the discharge of professional duties, in the early settle- 
ment of the country, when streams were without bridges, and the 
roads in bad condition, he encountered many exposures and perils, 
his general health is yet good. He has witnessed the transformation 
of the country from a rude wilderness, to a state of high cultivation, 
and important commercial marts grow up in places where, when he 
first visited them, were only the abodes of Indians, wild beasts and 
fowls. 

Former pages afford evidence that Dr. Conant was among the 
most public-spirited citizens, who aided in planting white settle- 
ments and civilization in this then wilderness country. As he is 
the oldest physician, he is also the oldest living merchant in the 
valley. 



J^SUP W. SCOTT. 

Jesup Wakeman Scott was born on a farm in Ridgefield, Con- 
necticut, February 25, 1799 ; — nearly all his ancestors being of the 
New Haven Colony stock, and embracing the Wakemans, Smiths, 
Banks, Benedicks, Bradleys, Lobdells, Jesups, etc. His advantages 
for education were poor up to the age of 15, when he commenced 
teaching and study ; and, at the age of 20, he had gone through 
preparatory studies for entry to the junior class of Union College, 
Schenectady, New York. Afterwards, while teaching in Richmond 
Academy, Augusta, Georgia, he studied Greek and law, and, at the 
age of 23, was admitted to the bar of that State. In 1822, he atten- 
ded Judge Gould's Litchfield school, and heard a course of law 
lectures. 

In 1823, he opened a law office at Chesterville, South Carolina, 
and in 1824 married his cousin, Susan Wakeman, of Southport, Con- 
necticut. In 1825, he removed to Lexington, South Carolina, where 
he became a law partner of John Belton O'Neall, a distinguished 
advocate, and Speaker of the lower House of the Legislature of 
South Carolina, and afterwards, up to 1862, Chief Justice of the 
State. In December, 1825, Mr. Scott reported the great debate 
in the House of Representatives, between Judge Smith and his 
friends, advocating resolutions in favor of State rights, and the up- 
holders of Calhoun, in support of national views of Constitutional 
powers. For a short time, Mr, Scott performed some editorial 
labor for the Columbia lelescope, then the organ of Colonel Wil-. 
liam C. Preston, and President Thomas Cooper, representing the 
State Rights party. But his sympathies were with Calhoun and his 
dootriues, ana he could not serve the other party. His friends then 




MrAat 



Jyiicas County — Jesitp W. Scott. 573 

procured for him the position of Deputy Treasurer ot the State, 
which he held for several years, keeping his law oflicc iu tlie State 
House. 

In 1828, O'Neall having been made Judge, and nullification cli- 
ents not liking to support a northern union lawyer, Mr. Scott, with 
habits and disposition better litted for study and reflection than for 
the performmce of duties usually devolving on the practical law- 
yer, closed his office, and accepted an appointment as teacher in the 
State FemaleCoilege, in Columbia; and wlien in the pleasant perform- 
ance of the duties of this post, his mind, at intervals, was active in 
the study of the natural positions for future cities, to grow up in the 
then almost unpeopled interior of our country. While pursuing this 
field of investigation, he addressed a letter, dated "Columbia, So. Ca., 
10th July, 1S28," now nearly half a century ago, to General John E. 
Hunt, then postmaster at Maumee, in which he said : 

"I wish to obtain all the information in my i)ower respecting 
your section of country, with a view of making it my future resi- 
dence." 

His only means of knowledge of the country, were the imperfect 
maps in use at that time. On this subject he became somewhat 
enthusiastic, believing that he foresaw, beyond others, the prospect 
for future great cities, in positions then nearly or quite unknown. 
Transportation by water, being then the only cheap way, he expected 
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys to dominate the great commerce of 
the interior, at Cincinnati and St. Louis, or Alton. The Erie and 
"Welland canals, afterwards, opened up lake navigation, and were 
aided by canals in Ohio and Illinois, — thus changing the current of 
trade from the rivers to the lakes, and demonstrating that the lake bor- 
ders would achieve supremacy, instead of the river borders in city 
growth. Then he believed in and wrote favoring the great positions 
made by the extensions of lakes Erie and Michigan inland, and so 
commanding large territories. From the head of lake Erie, naviga- 
ble canals reached to the Ohio river at Cincinnati and Evansville, 
embracing a distance, on both lines, of nearly seven hundred miles. 
From the head of Lake Michigan, a canal connected its navigation 
with that of the Mississippi, through the Illinois river. These chan- 
nels were expected to concentrate a great part of the commerce 
south westward and northwestward of the lake termini, in Toledo 
and Chicago; but soon it was discovered that railroads might come 
in successful competition with these water channels ; and it was the 
sudden concentration of these, in Chicago, radiating thence over the 
fertile prairies, that sent Chicago ahead, beyond all precedent; and 
a like concentration at Toledo, surrounded, on its land side, by 
acres, Avhen reclaimed, more fertile, gave promise of a like marvel- 
ous growth to this city. 

In the light of these facts and experiences, and after maturely 
studying the progress of cities, the world over, and the direction 
and concentration of city growth towards and in a narrow climatic 



574 Lucas County — Jesup W. 8coU. 



zone, Mr. Scott put forth the results of his studies and convictions 
in a pamphlet designed to prove that the greatest city of the future 
would grow up on our continent, in its interior; and, probably, 
where Toledo, or Chicago now forms its nucleus. This great re- 
sult, he claimed, would come within 100 years. 

Mr. S. removed with his family to Perry sburg in May, 1833 ; and 
in December of that year, he, with Henry Darling, established, in 
that place, a weekly newspaper, the first in northwestern Ohio, en- 
titled, *' J/wwt of the Lake.'''' It was intended to represent all that 
new part of the State; but a change of proprietorship and editors 
occurred in 1835, and it became local in the interests of Perrys- 
burg, and changed its name. In his first number, issued December 
11, 1833, referring to the Maumee Valley, Mr. Scott said: 

"Of this section we shall endeavor to make our journal a faithful 
and impartial representative organ ; — in effecting which, it will be- 
come our duty to disabuse the public mind at the east, if our sheet 
shall have the fortune to circulate there, of the numberless false im- 
pressions in regard to this section, with which it is imbued. This 
we shall endeavor to do, by giving, as far as we are able, a faithful 
picture of the country, neither brightened by the false glare of un- 
deserved praise, nor darkened by the sombre hues of causeless 
reproach ; of which, we regret to say, the supposed interests of 
rival points of trade have occasioned it to receive an unwonted 
share.'' 

From 1832 to the present time, Mr. S. has, first in his own paper, 
the Emigrcmfs Guide, and, afterwards, in the Hesperian, Hunt's 
Merchants' Magazine, and in the Toledo Blade, of which, for several 
years, he was editor and proprietor, and in DeBow's Review, writ- 
ten extensively on the subject of the internal and exterior commerce 
of owY country, and the prospective growth of its cities. Of the 
chief of these cities he early forecasted, with now-recognized accu- 
racy, their rapid growth and relative importance. Finally, their 
future so loomed up, in his imagination, that he confidently anticipa- 
ted the time when, in less than a century, the greatest city of the 
world would be in the interior of our country. 

In June, 1832, Mr. Scott purchased seventy acres, in what is now, 
and is likely to remain for years, the centre of Toledo. This, with 
other purchases, based on his faith in the growth of the city, so in- 
creased in value as to make his pecuniary condition sufficiently fa- 
vorable, to allow time for investigation in his favorite department of 
knowledge of which the law of growth of modern cities, forecasting 
their future, has been the favorite. But his greediness for knowl- 
edge has led him into other fields, in which he has revelled without ex- 
ploring any with exhaustive thoroughness. He has now, in his 75th 
year, completed papers for a permanent gift of one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, well situated for great future value, intended to give 
educational advantages not offered by our public schools, and de- 
signed to enable students of both sexes to earn an independent sup- 
port. 



Lucas County — Jesup W. Scott. 575 

This bequest, one of the most generous ever made by any resi- 
dent of an Ohio citv, is thus explained in the Toledo Morning Com- 
mercial, of October24, 1872 : 

" A TOLEDO UNIVERSITY — MUNIFICENT DONATIONS FOR AN IMPOR- 
TANT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION — SOMETHING FOR TOLEDO'S 
FUTURE. 

" It has for some days been known to us, that our worthy fellow 
citizen, Jesup W. Scott, Esq., was maturing the plan of a movement 
which promised much for Toledo and the cause of education ; but 
we thought best to defer mention of it until it should assume defi- 
nite and complete shape. This was reached yesterday afternoon, and 
we take the earliest opportunity to present the facts to the readers 
of the Commercial. The plan is for the establishment of an insti- 
tution of learning, to be known as 'The Toledo University of Arts 
and Trades,' and to embrace the objects more particularly set forth 
in Mr. Scott's deed of trust. 

" The Trustees of the corporation met on the 23d of October in 
the Boody house. His Honor, Mayor Jones, in the chidr, where they 
organized, by the choice of Hon. Richard Mott as President, and 
Colonel D. F. DeWolf, Superintendent of Public Schools, as Sec- 
retary. 

"Jesup W. Scott, Esq., being present, then delivered to the Board 
of Trustees the deed of trust of 160 acres of land, described there- 
in, and located about three miles from the post office, together with 
a plat of the same, which were formally accepted and adopted^by 
the Board on the conditions therein set forth. 

"A committee was appointed to draft by-laws and plan of work, 
and to call a meeting of the Board when ready to report." 

The following is a copy of Mr. Scott's deed of trust : 

Know all men by these presents: That wc, Jesup W. Scott and Susan Scott, 
in consideration of one dollar paid to us by the grantees hereinafter named, and 
of other considerations hereinafter expressed, do hereby convey to Wilhani H. 
Scott, Frank J. Scott, Maurice A. Scott, Williana H. Raymond, Chas. W. Hill, 
Kichnrd Mott, Sarah R. L. Williams, and Albert E. Macomber, Trustees of the 
" Toledo University of Arts and Trades," and, by virtue of their offices, the 
Superintendent of Public Schools of Toledo, the Mayor of Toledo, and the 
Governor of the State of Ohio and their successors, forever, the tollowin^ des- 
cribed land, to wit : The west half of the southeast quarter (W i S E i) and 
the east half of the southwest quarter (E ^ S W i) of section four (4) in town- 
ship three (3), in the United States Reserve of twelve miles square, at the toot 
of the Rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, with the privileges and the appurten- 
ances of the same. , ., . 

To have and to hold, to the aforesaid grantees, as trustees, and their RUcces- 
sors forever • we hereby covenanting that the title so conveved is unincumber- 
ed, and that we will warrant and defend the same against all claims whatsoever. 

This conveyance is made to the said Trustees in tr>ist, for the following ob- 
iects and purposes, and subject to the following conditions, to wit : To estab- 
lish an institution for the promotion of the Arts and Trades and the related 
Sciences by means of lectures and oral instruction ; of models and representa- 
tive works of art ; of cabinets of minerals ; of museums instructive of the 



576 Lucas County— Jesup W. Scott. 



mechanic arts; and of whatsoever else may serve to furnish artists and artisaus 
with the best faculties for a high culture in their respective occupaSs ?n 
addition to what are furnished by the public schools of the Sy A?so' o 
furnish mstruction in the use of phonographic characters, and to aid their' in- 
troduction into more general use, by writing and printing ; and, also to en- 
com-age health-giving, invigorating recreatfons. All the kdvanta-es of the 
mstitution shall be free of cost to all pupils who have not the means to pay 
and all others are to pay such tuition and other fees and charges as the Trustees 
may require, and be open alike to pupils of both sexes 

r.oioo?'' 'T°°''' from lessees of the lands herein conveyed, shall, after payin- 
necessary charges and improvements, he expended by said Trustees to Iccom- 
phsh the objects herein stated. The Trustees shall plat and sub-divide the land 

deeS L'^t?^'^^T?^ V- *^ *H' ^"^^-^^^ ^^^P' ^^^^1^ ^l^all be a part of tZ 
deed, and they shall dedicate the streets and open grounds to public uses not 
inconsistent with the uses of the trust, and shall leased as opportunity off ers the 
Sin f ^rT4^"P^^ ^^1 *"™' following, to wit: For an annSal rental of not less 
than tour (4) per centum, nor more than six (6) per centum upon the fairlv 
bS a term'ofi '""'r^f' '" ''""''^ ' Pajable garter-yearly. Safd leases sS 
SpfiSL ^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^S^""^' renewable at the option of the lessee for an in- 
definite number of years, from time to time, at the end of each five years on 
the basis of the appraised value at the commencement of each term of five (5) 

nnni';i?.Tl'l'!f i"^/"""'*'^,' ^1'^}} P^^^.^^be the plans of all buildings to be erected 
upon the leased lots, and shall require that all dwelling houses be located not 
less than twenty 20) feet from the streets. The central plat five Udred (500 
feet m diameter, is designed for the erection of buildings for the use of the 
thp'fS^V 1 ? i""'}^ ,? sections, as funds may be acquired for that purpose, 
Th. 5 ?i^^if f i^ll ^ot be nearer than twenty (20) feet to the avenue. ' 
The said Board of Trustees shall have power to fill by vote of a maiority of 
Jf^^^i^^'L^ ^ less than five remaining), all vacancies by death or otherwise. 

Jnnl^?t f !'^l''^f^ ^^^""T ^^^' *^^ Governor of Ohio is authorized to make 
appointments to fill up to that number. 

In the division of the blocks into lots, each lot in the rectangular blocks 
WWonf,'.",' ^'' a« practicable, twenty (20) feet wide, and those of' the irfe^! 
lar blocks as near that size as may well be made 

nnfo,^'fw^^^^T''''^^'^^^'^''|:^''"P^^•^ ^^<5 Susan Scott, have here- 
unto set their hands and seals, this twenty-first day of October, in the vear one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two (1872). ^ 

Jesup W. Scott [seal]. 

Susan Scott [seal]. 
edgment.]'' witnessing of the signatures, and the ordinary acknowl- 

The Coinmcrcial concludes its account as follows: 
"It will be noticed with what propriety the memories of distin- 
guished scientists, artists and educators are thus associated with the 
institution which is designed to supply more ready facilities for the 
objects which they promoted at so much disadvantage. This is the 
more fatting since, but for the success attained through their ffreat 
labor and self-denial, such an institution could not have the promise 
ot the appreciation requisite for its success. May the merits of its 
graduates be found worthy of like recoo-nition by future genera- 
tions. ^ -^ to " 

"The site of this institution is near the junction of the Air Line 
Old Line, and Detroit Branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan 



-w- 



4^ 





^r 



Lucas County — Francis L. Nichols. 



Soutbern Railway, where large iniprovemeuts are being made, and 
still more important and extensive ones are in progress. With the 
improvements there contemplated, an early demand for leases of 
University lots may be expected." 

From the infancy of Toledo, when it was engaged in a doubtful 
struggle for commercial su])remacy, with rivals long since disap- 
peared from the arena of strife, AFr. hicott has been consjiicuous and 
self-sacrilicing in every wisely-directed effort to advance tlie interests 
of his chosen city. 

It may with entire truth be stated, in concluding this notice, that 
no pen has hitherto been employed with anything approaching the 
vigor and efl'ect in furthering the material interests of Toledo and 
the Maumee Valley, as the one in the hands of Mr. 8cott. His logic 
in support of his favorite theories regarding the future of the inte- 
rior city of this continent, attracted the attention of sound thinkers 
not only in this country, but in Europe; and not only Toledo, but Chi- 
cago, Detroit, and other Lake cities, have gathered strength, popula- 
tion and wealth from his labors. His life iuis been one of uninter- 
rupted activity and usefulness ; and years after he shall have passed 
away, his comprehensive, statesman-like mind, and the valuable ser- 
vices he has rendered the country, will be more fully appreciated 
than they are to-day, by a posterity who shall rejoice in the realiza- 
tion of his sagacious predictions. 

FRANCIS L. NICHOLS 

Was born in Herkimer co., N. Y., July 11, 1805 ; in January, 1830, 
at Fairfield, same co., was married to Miss Jeannette, daughter of 
Amza Bushnell, a pioneer of that country, and a brother of whom 
was among the first settlers of the Korth Western Territory at ]\Ia- 
rietta, in 1787. Judge Nichols removed to the Maumee Valley in 
Januar}^ 183G, and engaged in mercantile business at Manhattan, 
then a flourishing village, with flattering prospects of rapid growth. 

Manhattan, Washington, Oregon and part of Adams, were at that 
time included in the township of Port Lawrence. Judge Nichols 
was elected and served as one of the Trustees of Port Lawrence, and, 
after its separate organization, of Manhattan township. 

At the session of the Ohio Legislature, 184-1-42, Mr. Nichols was 
elected one of the Associate Judges of Lucas county, Avhich position, 
being poorly paid he resigned April, 1844, in order to accept the more 
lucrative oflice of Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and of the 
Supreme Court of said county. 

His seven years' official service in these offices, then filled by the old 
Judges, closed with the expiration of the first Constitution of Ohio, 
and since the present organic law came in force, was re-elected in 
1854, by the people, Clerk for the constitutional term of three years. 

Judge Nichols then retired to his little farm — a delightful situa- 
tion upon the banks of the Maumee river, which he cultivated, 

36 



578 Fulton and Henry Counties. 



combining the beautiful with the useful, in his operations, until tlie 
revolt of the Southern States occurred ; and then, although past 
military age, he enlisted as a private soldier, oflfering his services to 
the country without regard to personal hopes of promotion or profit. 
If he did not meet the foe, and acquire the soldier's laurels in the 
field, it was because they did not approach and offer battle ; and il 
he failed to advance and meet the enemy, it was for the reason that 
he was not ordered to do so. The friends of Judge Nichols are not 
ashamed of his military record, as the motives that dictated his 
engaging in the service were not to make money or secure tinsel for 
his shoulders, but to contribute, so far as he was able, to restore 
peace, union, and equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever 
persuasion, color, religion or politics. 

In real estate operations, in which he has been engaged during the 
past several years, Judge Nichols has been successful, and lived to 
see his " little farm " embraced within the corporate limits of the 
city of Toledo ; and few families in the city enjoy a higher degree of 
happiness and tranqnility than do Mr. and Mrs. Nichols at their 
pleasant home. 



[Consulting the convenience of printers, and for the purpose of 
facilitating the issue of this work, it is determined here to pass to 
the other Ohio Counties of the Valley, and to reserve for conclud- 
ing pages the remainder of the matter relating to Lucas County.] 



FULTON COUNTY. 

This county, possessing a soil equal in fertility to any in Nortli- 
western Ohio, was organized in 1849. It has no points of ancient 
historical interest. Its progress in population and wealth, has been 
very satisfactory. 

The following are the census figures : In IbSO, population 7,781 ; 
in 1860, 14,043 ; in 1870, 17,789. 

Wauseon, the county seat, in 18G0, contained a population of 378, 
and, in 1870, a population of 1,474. 

Delta, in 1870, had a population of 753; and Archbald, of 373. 

Wauseon has a first class newspaper, the North-Western Re- 
publican, publislied by Messrs. A. B, Smitli & Co. 



HENRY COUNTY 

Was formed April 1, 1820, and named from Patrick Henry, tlie cele- 
brated Virginia orator in the revolutionary era. "The notorious 
Simon Girty," says Henry Howe, ''once resided five miles al)ove 



Henry County — Girty^ Kenton., Sc. 579 



Napoleon, at a place called ' Girty's Point' His cabin was on the 
bank of the Maumee, a few rods west of the residence of the late 
Elijah Gunn. All traces of his habitation have been obliterated by 
culture, and a fine farm now surrounds the spot." 

The following, from the brave and accomplished mind of the late 
William Hubbard, may be here appropriately introduced: 

AT GIRTY'S ISLAND. 

BY WM. HTJI5BAKD. 

It was once asked: 'Who ever thought of blaming Hercules?' 
It is quite as pertinent to inquire : ' Who ever thought of praising 
Simon Girty ?' So far as he knows, the writer of this was the first 
to venture a word in his behalf. Girty had been taken prisoner by 
the Indians in early youth, and became attached at once to tlie red 
men, and to the wild life they led. That he should abide with them, 
and fight for them, is not to be wondered at. We hear much of his 
cruelty ; but he was rivalled, at least, if not surpassed, in barbarism 
by his Christian foes. He was neither better nor worse than the 
average fighter of that day on either side. Kenton, for instance, was 
a fugitive from justice, a stealer of Indian horses, and withal a ])retty 
rough sort of person. The Wetzels were murderers, with malice 
prepense, and nothing better. Even Colonel Crawford, on his last 
fatal march, bore the black flag into the Indian country, and i)ro- 
claimed his purpose to spare neither age nor sex. Girty was not so 
merciless as he has been represented, by those to whom his name 
was a word of terror. He rescued Kenton from the stake, and it is 
believed that he tried to save the life of Crawford, though he might 
well have been excused for any strenuous effort in that behalf. 

' Girty's Island' is seven miles above Napoleon, and comprises, 
as we are informed, about forty acres. The soil is remarkably pro- 
lific, and an extremely dense growth of vegetation is the result. 
Girty's cabin was on tlie left bank of the river; and it is said that 
when he was apprehensive of a surprise, he would retire to the 
island, as the tiger to his jungle, with a sense of almost absolute 
security from his pursuers: 

A dense, wild mass of wood and vine, 

And fiowers and fruits in season, 
And strong-armed oaks, this isle of lliiue 

Was called so tor good reason. 
Tlie hounded deer its covert sought. 

In life's last faint endeavor; 
And here the wild fowl's nest was wrought, 

Where hunter found it never. 

Tliv heart was like this isle of thine, 

Uocultured, unattended; 
Where wholesome fruit and poisonous vine, 

Grew up and strangcl}' hk-ndcd ;— 



580 Henry County — Pioneers^ &g. 



"Wheie refuge never was denied 

To any suifering seeker, 
And succor waited for the side 

That needed it — the wealier. 

Men named thee Outlaw, Renegade, 

Who seemed to have forgotten 
Assassin Wetzel's bloody trade — 

The Night of Gnadenhutten — 
The barbarous vaunt of Crawford's men, 

The Huns of old time shaming ! — 
All this must have forgotten been, 

While thee so fiercely blaming. 

No Knight in the chivalrlc age. 

Espoused cause more deser-sang, 
Or bore in tent or battle's rage 

A fealty more unswerving; 
No feeble race by Might opprest. 

E'er had more gallant warder 
Than thee, wild Warrior of the West, 

Grim Chieftain of the border. 

Thy death, heroic as thy life. 

Made whole its perfect seeming, 
To perish in the fateful strife — 

Thy cause lost past redeeming. 
The world thenceforth could offer thee 

No further deeds of daring, 
And life would but a burden be 

Too onerous for bearing. 

Oh, great-souled Chief! — so long maligu'd 

By bold calumniators, 
The world shall not be always blind. 

Nor all men be thy haters. 
If ever on the field of blood, 

Man's valor merits glory. 
Then Girty's name and Girty's fame 

Shall shine in song and story. 

Napoleon, Ohio, August, 1871, 

The following were residents in Napoleon in 1837: Judge Alex- 
ander Craig, James G, Haley, General Henry Leonard, James Magill, 
John Powell, Hazell Strong, George Stout, and John Glass. 

There were three small frame houses, the others being made of 
logs. The first house erected in the place, was a log cabin, 12 by 14 
feet, and was offered to the public by Amos Andrews as a tavern. 

On the usual road, on the north side of the river, between Maumee 
City and Fort Wayne, thirty-five years ago, after leaving the former 
place the first house the traveller would meet would be at Water- 
ville, six miles above Maumee City, where he would find five or six 
dwellings. Passing up seven or eight miles farther, he would reach 
the tavern of Mr, Tiehean, a half-breed Indian. The next house, 
eighteen miles above, would be in a group of three or four, standing 
at Providence; thence he would reach the hospitable house of Samuel 



Henry County — Napoleon Business. 581 



Vance, occupying the site of a farm which was found by "Wayne's 
army in a high state of cultivation, in 1794; and which was then 
known as Prairie du Masque, and now as Damascus. This point 
would bring the traveller twenty-seven miles above Maumee City. 
The next house, about two miles above Damascus, was a tavern and 
trading post, owned by John Patrick. Three miles above this, the 
traveller would reach JSTapoleon, where he would discover the settlers 
above enumerated. 

It had been the design to devote several pages to the pioneers of 
Henry county, — their reminiscences, etc., — much of value on this 
subject having been furnished by Hon. James G. Haley, in an address 
delivered at Napoleon, March, 18G9; but these already over-crowded 
pages will not now admit the execution of the design. 

The development of the material resources of the county has been 
rapid during the last several years. In 1823, the tax valuation of 
Henry county, amounted to 1208 ; in 1871, to $3,905,972. 

The population of the county in 1830, was 262; in 1840. 2,503; 
in 1850, 3,434; in 1860, 8,901; in 1870, 14,028. 

Napoleon, the county seat, was platted in 1H32, and the first dwel- 
ling, a log cabin, erected on the plat that year. Its advance in pop- 
ulation and wealth, during the last ten years, has been highly grati- 
fying to the real estate ov/ners of the town. In 1850, the population 
of the township of Napoleon amounted to 560; in 1860, the popu- 
lation of the town, to 918, and in 1870, to 2,018. 

Some of the leading interests of Napoleon, and which will afford a 
general idea of its present moral and business condition, are here given : 

Five church buildings: Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Episco- 
pal, and German Lutheran. The Swedenborgians have also a church 
organization. There are two well-conducted newspapers, — The 
North- West, by L. Orwig & Co., and the Napoleon Signal, by P. B. 
Aingcr; two banks — the First National, organized February, 1872, 
and that of Sheffield & Norton (William Sheffield, and J. I). Nor- 
ton), a private institution, and the oldest, established in 1800, The 
senior member of this firm is a pioneer of the Northwest, and, 
when in practice, a successful lawyer, and one of the best business 
men on the river, having held respousil)le oiricial positions, near 
thirty years ago; and Mr. Norton h;id achieved an established repu- 
tation in commercial circles in Cleveland, before his removal to 
Napoleon. The institution is n]ion solid basis, and commands the 
confidence and deposits of the i)ublic. A suit of offices, including 
burglar and iire-proof vaults and safes, in V^ocke's block. Perry 
street, were completed in the spring of 1872, and are equal in ele- 
gance to some of the most attractive in the largest cities. 

In manufactures, there are, in Napoleon, a shingle factory, planing 
mill, stave fixctory, ashery, 2 grist mills, 2 saw mills, handle factory, 
tannery, woollen mill, 2 foundry and machine shops, 4 wagon, and 
1 carriage do, 7 blacksmith do, 3 tailor do, 2 boot and shoe do, 4 
carpenter do, 2 harness do, I brewery, and 1 distillery. 



582 Williams and Defiance Counties. 



Also, 4 hotels, 4 dry goods stores, 6 family grocery do, 3 hardware 
do, and "Z drug do. Wauseon has also an immediate prospect for 
one or more new railway lines. 



WILLIAMS COUNTY 

Was formed April 1, 1830, and organized in April, 1824. It was 
named from Daniel Williams, one of the three captors of Major 
Andre, in the war of the revolntion. Tlie erection of Defiance 
county, in 184.5, detached from old Williams the portion of terri- 
tory embodying its lirst settlement, and which is invested with the 
early historical matter that gave it value and interest. When the 
county seat was removed from Defiance to Bryan, in 1840, there was 
not an inhabited dwelling on the place now occupied by this flour- 
ishing town. A native forest, of immense trees, bearing evidence of 
the natural wealth of the soil, covered the ground. The first Court 
House and offices were built of logs. 

The first Federal census was taken when the county embraced the 
present territoi-y of Williams, Defiance, Paulding, and part of Henry. 
It then contained, in 1S20, a population of 387; in 1830, 4,465 ; m 
1840, 8,018 ; in 1850 (having meantime lost the towniships included 
within Defiance county), 1(3,633; and in 1870, 20,991. 

h\ 1839, the real and personal valuation for tax purposes, amount- 
ed to 130,532, and the taxes to $3,520. Number of acres on the 
duplicate, 8Gl, and their value, .$8,258. 

The following are the present valuations of lands, Bryan city lots, 
and chattels in Williams county, as obtained from the Auditor's 
books, by Ilobert N. Patterson, Esq., and aflbrds gratifying evidence 
of the progress of the county: 

Total number of acres of land in county, outside Bryan 265,702 

Total value of land iu county, outside Bryau $-1,073,800 00 

chattels " " '"' 1,587,038 00 

" lots and parcels of land in Bryau 478,685 00 

chattels in Bryau ..-. 297,046 00 

Total value in county .$7,086,560 00 

The lawyers taxed in 1839, were, Horace Sessions, Curtis Bates, 
Amos Evans, and William Semans ; and the physicians, Jonas Colby, 
G. W. Crawford, James M. Gillespie, Oney Rice, Jr., and Nathan G. 
Sales. 

The first session of the County Commissioners of old Willi^ims, 
was held at Defiance, December G, 1824 — the Commissioners being 
Benjamin Leavell, Cyrus Hunter, and Charles Gunn; and their 
clerk, John Evans. 

At this session, authority was granted for opening a road " on 
the north side of the Mauraee ri\er, commencing at the east line of 
Henry county, and running from thence on the best and most eligi- 



Williams and Defiance Counties. 583 



ble ground opposite Defiance, Williams county, and to^ cross the 
river opposite Jefferson street, in said town of Defiance." ^ 

The name of Aui^laize township was changed to that of Defiance. 

The County Auditor at this time was S. S. Smith ; Assessor, 
Samuel Vance, and Sheriff, William Preston. * ., r 

The first Court of Common Pleas was held at Defiance, April o, 
1824, by Associate Judges Pierce Evans, Robert Shirley, and John 

Perkins. 

John Evans was also appointed clerk pro tern., and gave tlie nec- 
essary bond. He was also appointed by the Court Recorder for the 
County of Williams. ... .i 

The Court fixed the following as the rates of ferriage across the 
Maumee and Auglaize rivers : For a footman, G^: cents ; man and 
horse 18i cents ; loaded wa^on and team, $1 ; four-wheeled car- 
riage and team, 75 cents; loaded cart and team, 50 cents; empty 
cart and team, sled or sleigh and team, 'dn, cents ; horse, mare, mule 
or ass, one year old or upwards, (S\ cents; neat cattle, per head, 4 
cents : hogs and sheep, per head, 2 cents. 

The Court granted a license to Benjamin Leavell to keep a terry 
across the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, at Defiance, upon his pay- 
ing into the County Treasury the sum of one dollar and fitty cents, 

lor the term of one year. , i> • • t «o„oii , 

At the May term, 18;i4, the Court granted Benjamm Leavell a 

license to vend merchandise at his residence in the town of Defiance 

for the term of one year, upon his paying into the County Treasury 

ten dollars. ^. , . •^tr.A v.xr 

At the May term, 1825, Rodolphus Dickmson was appointed by 

the Court Prosecuting Attorney. Williams 

Among the old settlers within the present limits oM^ d lams 



county, are Philetus S. Gleason, who removed from T^om,Ams 
county, New York, to Springfield township, m IS'^''' 7J^^^^ j^^ 
opened a small farm, upon which he resided two years. He is now 




us brotner-in-iaw, isaiiu i:.vau^, ^.w,, "^r.-'rT'T •, ,V,./^„, "Rinh- 
Also, in 1835, Henry Miller, removed with his tami y ^^on Rich 

land county, to'jefierson township, where ^^^^l^^^^. 

continued upon it until a few years prior to his death, which occui 

" Johi^mier, a brother of the alcove -med, also from Richlaml^ 
commenced opening a farm in ]'>rady township, during the same 
vpar He is now a resident of Pulaski township. • iooi 

^'moss" Hood, Thompson, and Joseph Bates --e scU ers .n «34 
Mr. Thompson resides on Uio iarm m Jetterson township, that no 

first opened. , . , . • loor. 

Collin and David Thorp settled in the county in 18. . 
M. B. Plnmmer, now of Bryan, who removed to the count) in 



584 Williams County — Population, &g. 



October, 1841, and settled near the village of Pulaski, says that 
Isaac Perkins (of Edgerton), is the oldest resident now of Williams, 
having been in the county about 55 years. Mr. Plummer also says 
that there are few jjersons living in the county who inhabited it 32 
years ago. He still finds, however, Albert Opdyke, George W. 
Myers, Isaac Perkins, Jacob Youse, Jacob Over, John Kaufman, 
William Yates, P. W. Snow, John and Jefferson Miller, Turner 
Thompson, Samuel Beerbower, John and Hiram Opdyke, Elijah 
Perkins, Jabez Jones, senior and junior, John B. Jones, Andrew 
Smith, Stephen Doughten, A. J. Tressler, William Wyatt, James 
Oliver, and George Buchler. 

The following were the officers of Williams county in 1872: 

Lewis E. Brewster, Clerk of Court ; P. Smith, Prosecuting Attor- 
ney; Simeon Gillis, Auditor; Melvin M. Boothman, Treasurer ; 11. 
L. Walker, Sherift'; Eobert D. Dole, liecorder; James Paul, Sur- 
veyor ; H. S. Kirk, Coroner ; Eli Booth, D. Farnham, and F. W. 
Stocking, Commissioners. 

Bryan, the seat of justice of Williams county, is, in several 
respects, one of the most desirable inland towns in the Valley for 
residence. Among its chief advantages, is the abundant supply of 
pure water, readily and cheaply obtained from Artesian Wells, which 
have been discovered from analysis of eminent chemists, to contain 
properties of medicinal value. 

The town was surveyed and platted by Miller Arrowsmith, in 
July. 1840, — it having become an incorporated village, by an act of 
the Legislature, passed March 7, 1849. 

Pulaski township, in which Bryan is located, contained, in 1840, 
a population of 279; in 1850,760; in 1800, 2,258, and in 1870, 
5,831. The relations of population, business, and wealth existing 
between Pulaski township and Bryan, are so intimately associated, 
that it is deemed proper to combine the census returns. 

Bryan contains four church edifices — Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, suid 
German Lutheran — and seven congregations. In addition to well-conducted 
schools, tlie Normal Acadcmv, under the management of C. "W. ]\Iykrantz, is 
in very successful operation. 

Two banking institutions— one National, and one organiz'?d under State 
laws — fire prosecuting a safe and sound business. 

Two newspapers are w'ell sustained — the Bryan Democrat, by Robert N. 
Pfitterson, and the Bryan Press, by P. C. Hayes. 

In manufacturing, the city contains a luib and spoke factory; foundry and 
machine shop ; stove factory ; two grist mills; three saw do; sash and l)lind 
factory; llax mill; shingle and handle factory; three cooper shops; three 
wagon and carriage do ; pump and cistern factory ; brewery, ashery, tannery ; 
two cigar manufactories ; three cabinet and four blacksmith shops. 

The city has also three hotels ; six dry goods, five grocery and provisions, 
four clothing, four boot and shoe, and three drug and medicine stores; three 
liarness shops ; five meat markets ; seven millinery shops, and two livery 
stables. 

In 1872, the amount paid at Bryan for timber, amounted to $40,000, and for 
flax straw, $30,000. 

O. T. Letcher & Co., in 187f-72, paid for domestic produce, i;145,000. Other 
firms paid out an aggregate equaliiig this amount. This firm of 0. T, Letcher 



Defiance County — Early History. 585 



«fc Co., which controls chiefly the produce trade of the Bryan market, was es- 
tablished in 1860, when the whole paynicnls tor domestic pro(hice would 
scarcely exceed $7.5,000. By business skill and fair dealinir, they have obtain- 
ed full confidence ot farmers and commercial men, and their business is in- 
creasing with the rapidly advancing wealth of the country. The senior mem- 
ber of the firm, ]\Ir. William Letcher, is a pioneer of the Maumce Valley, and 
first established himself in business at Fort Wayne, in 1841. 

One dry goods firm (Ashton & Co.,) made sales, in 1871-72, of goods 
amounting to $100,000, and disbursed an e(|ual amount for ])roduce — a sum 
equivalent to the entire business of the town in lH5r., when the house com- 
menced business. Its first year's sales, including produce transactions, did not 
exceed $25,000. Thisflict illustrates the vigorous growth of the town. 

One of the best agricultural townships in the county, is that of Brady, em- 
bracing the town of West Unity. The population of Brady, including West 
Unity, was, in 1840, 351 ; in 1850, 1,128; in 1860, 1,826; andin 1870, 2,218. 

Madison township, which includes Pioneer, had a population in 1850, of 227 ; 
in 1860, 966, and in 1870, 1,865. 

Edgerton, a new town on the Air Line road, in St. Joseph township, had a 
population in 1870, of 690 . 

Stryker, in Springfield township, on the Air Line railway, returned, in 1870, 
a population ot 671. 



DEFIANCE COUNTY. 

In matter of historical interest, connected with the early settle- 
ment of the West, the site of the old Fort Defiance, or Fort Win- 
chester, as sometimes known, — as the reader will have discovered in 
preceding pages, — was the scene of stirring and important events. 
Like Fort Wayne, it was a favorite point with tlie savages. Rev. 
O. M. Spencer, who, during his boyhood, in 1792, was a prisoner 
among the Indians, and spent most of his captivity at Defiance, says 
that " from this station I had a fine view of the large village more 
than a mile south, on the east side of the Auglaize, of Blue Jacket's 
town, and of the Maumee river for several miles below, and of the 
extensive prairie covered Avith corn, directly opposite, and forming 
together a very handsome landscape." On his expedition against 
the Indians on the Maumee, two years hater, General Wayne, also, in 
a communication to the War Department (whicli will soon follow), 
refers to " the extensive and highly cultivated fields and gardens, as 
showing the work of many hands." 

The late Chief Richardville, often asserted to Judge Borden and 
others, of Fort Wayne, that Pontiac was born at Fort Defiance, — 
one of his parents being a Miami, and tlie other belonging to the 
Ottawa tribe of Indians. 

According to Heckowelder, "the Miami of tlic Lake, at the junc- 
tion of the Auglaize with that river," was the place of abode and 
refuge, in 1781, for a remnant of the Moravian Christian Indians, 
after the massacre on tlie Muskingum. 

From manuscript prepared by Mr. Ilolgate, of Defiance, and designctl as a 
contribution to the Maumee Valley Historical Society, tlie following is ex- 
tracted regarding the captivity ofJohn Brickcll, of l'ittsi)urg, wlio. during 
his boyhood, in February, 1791, was captured near his home, and, after a 
painful and tedious march, reached Defiance in May, 1791, and was adopted by 



586 Defiance County — Captivity of Brickell. 



Whing-wy-poosbies, or "BjgCat," a Delaware Indian, in whose family he lived 
until June, 1795 ; when his captors surrendered themselves and their white 
prisoners to the commandant at Fort Defiance. Daring his residence among 
the Indians, two very important military events occurred— the defeat of St. 
Clair, in 1791, and tlie victory of Wayne, in 1794 ; and it was probably one of 
the results of the latter event, added to the neglect ol the British to supply 
them with food and clothing, that the Indians sought terms with the Ameri- 
cans. During his residence of five years among the Indians, young Brickell 
had become so deeply attached to them and their customs, that he hesitated to 
accept the proposition to leave them, and to return to his own family. Mr. 
Brickell states that when intelligence of the approach of St. Clair's army reached 
the Indians at Defiance, the women, children, aiid such valuables as could be 
transported, were conveyed down the river, while the able-bodied men went 
to resist the white invader. 

In reference to Wayne's campaign, Mr. Brickell says: "In the month of 
June, 1794, two Indian men, a boy and myself, started on a candle-light hunt- 
ing expedition up the Blanchard. We had been out about two months, and 
returned to the towns in August, and toujid them entirely evacuated, but gave 
ourselves no uneasiness, as we supposed the Indians had gone to the foot of the 
Maumee rapids to receive their presents from the British, as they were in the 
habit of doing. We encamped on the lowest island, in the middle of a corn 
field. Next morning an Indian runner came down the river and gave the 
alarm whoop, which is a kind of yell they used for no other purpose. The 
Indians answered, and one went over to the runner, and immediately returning, 
told us the white men were upon us, and we must run for our lives. We scat- 
tered like a flock of partridges, leaving our breakfast cooking on the fire. The 
Kentucky riflemen saw our smoke, and came to it, and just missed me as I 
passed them in my flight through the corn. They took the whole of our two 
month's work — breakfast, jerk, skins and all. Wayne was then only four 
miles fromjus, and the vanguard pressed us close. The boy and myself pursued 
the trail of the Indians till we overtook them. Two or three days after we 
arrived at the rapids, Wayne's spies came boldly into our camp and fired uptm 
the Indians. Their names were Miller, McCleUan, May, Wells, Mahaffy, and 
one other whose name I forget. Miller received a wound in the shoulder ; 
May was chased to the smooth rock in the bed of the river, where his horse 
fell, and he was taken prisoner ; but the others made their escape. May was 
taken to camp, and identified as an old prisoner who had made his escape, and 
on the next day (the one preceding the battle) he was tied to a tree and his 
l)ody riddled by fifty bullets. On the day of the battle, I was about six miles 
below with the squaws, and went out hunting. The day being windy, I heard 
nothing of the battle, but met some Indians on the retreat, one of whom told 
me they were beaten. Many Delawares were killed or wounded — among the 
former the one who took May. He was much missed, being their only gun- 
smith. Our crops and every means of support being cut ofl, we had to winter 
at the mouth of Swan creek, where Toledo now stands. We were entirely 
dependent on the British, and they did not half supply us, and thi Indians 
became exasperated at their ^conduct. It was concluded to send a flag to 
Fort Defiance, in order to make a treaty with the Americans ; and reaching 
that place, we found the Americans ready to treat, and an exchange of pris- 
oners was agreed upon. Nine whites were exchanged for nine Indians. I was 
left, there being no Indian to give for me. Patton, Johnston and Mrs. Baker 
■were three of the nine ; the names of the others I have forgotten. 

" On the opening of spring we all went up to Defiance, and arriving on the 
phore opposite, saluted the Ibrt with a round of rifles, and they shot a cannon 
thirteen times. We then encamped on the spot. On the same day, Whing-wj^- 
poo-shies told me I must go over to the fort. The children luuig round nie 
crying, and asked me if I was going to leave them? 1 told them I did not 
know. When we got over to the fort, and were seated with the officers, 
Whinwy-poo-shies addressed me in about these words : ' My son, these are 



Defiance County — Indian Captives. b^l 



men the same color -with yourself, and some of your own kin may be here, or 
they may be a great way oft". You Lave lived a long lime with us ; I now call 
upon you to say if I have not been a fatlier to you— if I have not used you as 
a father would a son V I replied : ' You have used me as well as a father 
could use a son.' He replied : ' I am glad you say so ; you have lived long 
with me ; you have hunted for me ; but our treaty says you must be tree. If 
you choose to go with the people of your own color, I have no right to say a 
word ; but if you choose to stay with me, your people have no right to speak. 
Now reflect on it and take your choice, and tell us as soon as you make up 
your mind.' I was silent a few minutes, during which time it seemed as if I 
thought of almost everything — of the children I had just left crying — of the 
Indians I was attached to, and I thought of my people, which I remembered, 
and this latter thought predominated, and I said : ' I will go with my kin.' 
The old man then said : ' I have raised you ; I have learned you to hunt. 
You are a good hunter ; you have been better to me than my own sons. I am 
now getting old, and caimot hunt. I thought you would be a support to my 
age ; I leaned upon you as on a staff ; but now it is broken ; you are going to 
leave me and I have no right to say a word ; but I am ruined.' He then sank 
back, in tears, to his seat. I heartily joined him in his tears — parted with him, 
and have never seen or heard ot him since." 

After his return from captivity, Mr. Brickell settled at Columbus, Ohio, and 
became one of its most esteemed citizens and honored Christians. 

Rev. 0. M. Spencer, already quoted from, thus describes, in his 
narrative, the site upon Avhich Fort Defiance was, two years after- 
wards, erected. 

On this high ground, extending from the Maumee a quarter of a mile up the 
Auglaize, about two hundred yards in width, was an open sjiace, on the west 
and south of which were oak woods, with hazel undergrowth. Within this 
opening, a few hundred yards above the point, on the steep high bank of the 
Auglaize, were five or six cabins and log houses, inhabited principally by 
Indian traders. The most northerly, a hewed log house, divided below into 
three apartments, was occupied as a warehouse, store, and dwelling, by George 
Ironside, the most wealthy and influential ot the traders on the point. Next 
to his were the houses of Pirault [Pero], a French baker, and McKenzie, a 
Scot, who, in addition to merchandizing, followed the occupation of silver- 
smith, exchanging with the Indians his brooches, ear-drops, and other silver 
ornaments, at an immense profit, for skins and furs. Still farther up were sev- 
eral other families of French and English. Fronting the house of Ironside, 
ami about fifty yards from the bank, was a small stockade, enclosing two hewed 
log houses, one of which was occupied by James Girty (brother of Simon), 
the other, occasionally, by McKee and Elliott, British Indian agents, living at 
Detroit. 

Brief extracts from the following copy of the letter of General 
AVayne to the Secretary of War, have beeu made in preceding pages ; 
but itshistorical and local value, and the high estimate given the 
place as a military point, authorizes its fall insertion here : 

Headquarters, Grand Glaize, / 
14th August, 17»i. f 

Sir: I have the honor to inform you tliat the army under my command 
took possession of this very important post on the morning of the 8th instant 
— the enemy, on the preceding evening, having abandoned all their settlements, 
towns and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation, as 
to amount to a positive proof, that our approach was not discovered by them, 
until the arrival of a Mr. Newman, of the Quartermaster General's Depart- 
ment, who deserted from the army near the St. Mary's, and gave them ever>' 
information in his power, as to our force, the object of our destiiiation, stale 



588 Defiance County — Qen. Wayne's Dispatch. 



of provisions, number and size of the artillery, etc., etc., circumstances and 
facts that he had but too good an opportunity of knowing, from acting as a 
field Quartermaster on the march, and at the moment of his desertion. Hence, 
I have good grounds to conclude, that the detection of this villain prevented 
the enemy from receiving a fatal blow at this place, when least expected. 

I had made such demonstrations, for a length of time previously to taking 
up our line of march, as to induce the savages to expect our advance by the 
route of the Miami villages, to the left, or towards Roche de Bout, by the right ; 
which feints appear to have produced the desired effect, by drawing the atten- 
tion of the enemy to those points, and gave an opening for the army to ap- 
proach undiscovered by a devious route, i. e., m a central direction, and which 
would be impracticable for an armj', except in a dry season, such as then pre- 
sented. 

Thus, sir, we have gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile 
Indians of the West, without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly 
cultivated fields and gardens, show the work of many hands. The margins of 
those beautiful rivers, the Miamies of the Lake, and Au Glaize, appear like 
one continued village for a number of miles, both above and below this place, 
nor have I ever before beheld such immense fields of corn, in anj^ part of 
America, from Canada to Florida. 

We are now employed in completing a strong stockade fort, with four good 
block houses, by way of bastions, at the confluence of the Au Glaize and the 
Miamies, w-hich I have called Defiance. Another fort was also erected on the 
bank of the St. Mary's, twenty-four miles advanced of Recovery, which was 
named Adams, and endowed with provision and a proper garrison. 

Everything is now prepared for a proper move to-morrow morning, towards 
Roche de Bout, or foot of the rapids, where the British have a regular fortifi- 
cation, well supplied with artillery, and strongly garrisoned, in the vicinity of 
which the fate of the campaign will probably be decided ; as, from the best 
and most recent intelligence, the enemy are there collected in lorce, and joined 
by the militia of Detroit, etc., etc., possessed of ground very unfavorable for 
cavalry to act in. Yet, notwithstanding this unfavorable intelligence, and 
unpleasant circumstances of ground, I do not despair of success, from the 
spirit and ardor of the troops, from the generals down to the privates, both of 
the legion and mounted volunteers. 

Yet, I have thoueht proper to ofl'er the enemy a last overture of peace ; and 
as they have everything that is dear and interesting now at stake, 1 have rea- 
son to expect that they will listen to the proposition mentioned in the enclosed 
copy of an address, despatched yesterday by a special flag, who I sent under 
circumstances that will ensure his safe return, and which may eventually spare 
the effusion of much human blood. 

But, should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. Amer- 
ica shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all-powerful and just 
God I therefore commit myself and gallant army, and have the honor to be, 
with every consideration of respect and esteem. 

Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

ANTHONY WAYNE. 



A nsident of Monroe, Michigan, has recently communicated to 
the newsi^aper press the following : 

Among the many interesting documents bearing on early history, and events 
of a past generation, which have been brought to life recently, is the original 
record of " General Orders," issued by General Winchester during the march 
from Kentucky to the River Raisin, fron; early in September, 1812, to January 
20, 1813,— and which was no doubt left behind when the army retreated. It 
was found, and for many years remained in the family of Colonel John Ander- 
son. It is a weather-stained volume, bearing unmistakable signs of frequent 
battles with the elements, The paper is yeilov/ with age, but the writing is 



Defiance County — Gen. Winchester'' s Order's. . 589 



aerfectily legible, tlie ink in most places being as black and brilliant as though 
rewritten yesterday. Through the courtesy of Mr. Anderson Wing, the present 
possessor, I am enabled to make a few extracts. The army left Kentucky in 
iugust, 1812. Most of the men were clothed in their linen hunting shirts, and 
i^ery few provided with woollen clothing — as a consequence sutiering severely 
?Fith celd before their supplies reached them. General Harrison joined the 
irmy on October 3d, as will be seen by the following order : 

Camp at Defiance, ] 
Octobers, 1813. )' 

GENERAL ORDERS. 

I have the honor of announcing to this army thr arrival of General Harri- 
son, who is duly authorized by the executive of the Federal Government to 
;ake command of the Northwestern Army. This officer is enjoying the im- 
plicit confidence of the States from whose citizens this army is and will bo 
collected, and possessing, himself, great military skill and re])utation, the Gen- 
eral is confident in the belief that his presence in the army, in the character of 
ts chief, will be hailed with unusual approbation. 

J. WINCHESTER, 
Brigadier General U. S. Army. 

The narrative of the march of the army through Ohio, is very interesting, 
ind contains many details of the hardships and' privations of the little army, 
through woods and streams, snow, ice and mud, the sleds and baggage vans 
)lten being drawn by the men. Occasional desertions took place, and these 
jffenses were severely punished. One young man, Frederick Jacoby, was sen- 
tenced to be shot for sleeping upon his post while on sentry. An order was 
issued by J. Winchester, Brigadier General, dated at Camp Defiance, on the 
Jth of October, 1813, instructing the officer of the day in all necessary prepa- 
rations for the execution of Jacoby, which were duly made, and the army 
drawn up to witness the first scene of this kind. The young man was placed 
at the distance of about twenty paces from the platoon of men constituting 
the firing party. They were waiting in painful suspense the order to fire, 
when a reprieve from the General was received, and the fortunate young man 
released. The effect was not lost upon the command, and no further cases of 
a similar kind ever were known. 

The weather began to be very cold (November 1), and the supplies which 
were ordered from Philadelphia had not made their appearance. The General 
endeavored to appease the clamors of the soldiers by issuing the following 
order : 

Fort Winchester, ) 
November 1, 1813. f 

GENERAL ORDERS. 

With great pleasure the General announces to the army the prospect of an 
3arly supply of winter clothing, amongst which are the following articles, 
shipped from Philadelphia on the 9th of September last: 10,000 pairs of shoes, 
5,000 blankets, 5,000 round jackets, 5,000 pairs of pantaloons, woollen cloth to 
be made up, besides the under clothing for Colonel Wells' regiment, 100 watch 
coats, 5,000 blankets, and 10,000 yards of flannel, 10,000 pairs shoes, 10,000 
pairs wool socks, 10,000 of wool hose. 

This bountiful supply evinces the constant attention of the government to 
the comforts of its armies, although the immense distance this wing hath been 
detached into the wilderness, has prevented its receiving those comforts in 
due season, owing to causes not within the control of human- foresight, yet a 
few days and the General consoles himself with the idea of seeing those whom 
he has the honor to command clad in warm woollen capable of resisting the 
northern blasts of Canada, cither from the bellows of Boreas, or the muzzles 
of British cannon. J. WINCHESTER, Brig. Gen., 

Commanding Left Wing N. W. Army. 



590 Defiance County — Gen. Winchester'^ s Orders. 



Some of the punishments inflicted were of a very ridiculous nature, and 
calculated to hurt the pride, especially, of the prisoners. As an instance : 

Camp Winchester, ) 
28th October, 1812. f 

SPECIAL ORDERS. 
* * * * * * * * * * 

James Givins, private in Captain Croghan's Company, charged with sitting 
down near his post, apparently asleep, with his gun out of his hands, last night, 
(October 25, 1812, found guilty, and sentenced to receive ten cobs on his bare 
jiosterior, well laid on, with a paddle four inches wide and one-half an inch 
tliick, bored full of holes. 

Thomas Clark, charged with altering his uniform without leave, sentenced 
to a reprhnand on parade. 

J. WINCHESTER, Brig. Gek'l. 

The records close at a date when they begin to be the most interesting, just 
before the arrival of Ihe army at the River Raisin, the last entry being as fol- 
lows: 

Camp Miami Rapids, ) 
Hull's Road, Jan., 1813. \ 

GElSTERAIi ORDERS. 

As ordered yesterday, the line of march sliallbc kept well closed, every offi- 
cer in his proper place, and no non-commissioned officer or private suffered to 
straggle fi-om the lines except from urgent necessity, and then with leave to 
return to his place. Perfect silence is enjoined during the niarch, being in the 
immediate neighborhood of the enemy. 

J. WINCHESTER, Bric. Gen., 
Commanding Left Wing N. W. Army. 



The Defiance Democrat^ of May, 18G0, in a notice of " Our Old 
Apple Trees," has the following : 

Defiance has been famed for the possession of a monstrous apple tree. Sti'an- 
gers have seldom failed to visit it, to measure its proportions, and speculate 
upon its age and origin. It stands on the narrow bottom, on the north side of 
Maumee, and nearly opposite the old fort. It has never failed, in the knowl- 
edge of present settlers, in producing a crop of very excellent apples. One 
large branch, however, has of late years been broken off by the storms, and 
wliich has much marred its proportions. The remainder is yet healthy and 
prospering. 

Before the town was laid out, there were many trees equally thrifty, and not 
less in size, in this vicinity. Their origin is variously conjectured. The most 
probable is, that they were planted by French missionaries and traders, during 
the French dominion on the lakes, and cared for afterwards by the Indians, 
trappers and traders. 

Thomas Warren, of this vicinity, who came here about fifty years ago, in- 
forms us that these apple trees stood in a row, about fifteen feet from the edge 
of the bank, and extended from the point up to the bridge, and that they were 
then in excellent bearing condition. These trees are now all gone, as well as 
the ground they stood on. The continual wearing away of the bank, from 
ice, freshets, and frosts, has amounted, in that time, to about twenty-five feet. 

On the Maumee bank, extending from where the canal now empties, up to 
the residence of l". J. Cole, was another row of similar trees — the most of 
these standing on the Wasson property. These, also, are all gone, except one 
in the rear of Mr. Cole's house. These died from various causes — cattle, culti- 
vation, and malicious, or mischievous boys. 

Chance trees stood also over most of the present town plat, but not of' so 
large a growth — probably volunteers. Some of the smaller ones were taken 



Defiance County — Old Apple Trees. 591 



up and removed by the early settlers. Samuel Kepler, another early settler, 
started his orchard with trees of this kind. On the small bottom, on the north 
side of the Jlaumee, opposite Defiance, were quite a number of trees extend- 
ing up as far as the county bridge ; some of these were on the towing path, 
and others in the way, so that they were cut down., or died. The old tree so 
fiimous, is, perhaps one of this row. Standing further in from the bank, and, 
])eing private property, it has been saved from the general destruction. 

At the so-called " Orchard Hollow,'' eight miles up the Maumec, was also 
finite a number of these old trees, and probably were of like origin and age. 
They were on the highland, on the south side, and immediately opposite tlie 
old Indian Delaware town, on the Ijottom, now the property of Chas. Speaker. 
It is remarked by Parkman, in his Jesuit and Pioneer History, tliat tlie mis- 
sionaries and traders always fixed their stations on high grounds, overlooking 
the Indian towns ; and the selection of the high grounds at Detianee, and at 
Orchard Hollow, was in accordance with this general rule. None of these 
trees are yet in existence, at the last named place. The fruit of all these trees 
was better than that of the present so-called natural trees — grew larger, and 
had more agreeable taste. The stocks of the trees were more like those of the 
forest, higher to the branches, longer in the limb than the grafted trees of the 
present day — which, as compared with the Indian trees, are mere overgrown 
shrubs. The few trees of large growth at Ottawa, Cliarloe, and Fort Brown, 
were probably planted by the Indians themselves. 

In early days, the Indians, before the whites obtained property in the land, 
guarded carefully these old trees. The fruit they claimed for themselves, ami 
distributed to the remotest sections of their tribes a share. Probably associa- 
tions of historic interest, of days of larger population and greater power, or 
of kindly regard for the French missionaries, by whom they were introduced, 
gave an extraordinary value to these old trees, in the estimation of tliese un- 
lutored sons of the forest. 

No trees of similar age are known to have existed on the Maumee, below 
Defiance. It was upon the upper waters of the river, that the Indians had 
their chosen seats, and here those who, from benevolence or trade sought their 
acquaintance, must come. 

After the extinguishment of the Indian title, the United States lands at De- 
fiance were surveyed by Capt. James Riley, whose name had become noted for 
having suffered shipwreck and captivity on the deserts of Africa. 

The following were the boundaries of the three school districts as laid olT 
June 5, 1826, by John Evans, Arthur Burrows, and John Perkins, Township 
Trustees : District No. 1, to include the town of Defiance, and all the settlers 
within one mile of Defiance district. No. 2, all the settlers on the Auglaize, 
from Robert Shirley's to Isaac Carey's, and all the settlers between the Au- 
glaize and Maumee rivers, embraced within one mile of Defiance. No. 3, to 
include all the settlers on Bean creek, and all the settlers on the nortli side of 
the Maumee, above the mouth of Bean creek, in said township. 

District No. 1 contained eleven,' District No. 2 thirteen, and District No. 3 
fifteen householders. 

It is much to be regretted that these i-apidly accumulating pages 
require the omission of many notes relating to the pioneer history 
of Defiance, and the counties which follow. Two or three delight- 
ful days were passed, during the summer of 1872, under the hospita- 
ble roof of Samuel Kepler, who was then in good health, but who 
died December 10, of pneumonia, at the age of 79 years, nine 
months, and seven days. Mr. Kepler came to the Maumee Valley 
in 1821, and entered a tract of land east of Defiance. On the 2d of 
December, 1827, he married Miss Rachel, daughter of Robert 
McKinnis, of Hancock county, Ohio — being the first white couple 



592 Defiance County — Early Iiihahitants. 



married ia that county — the ceremony being solemnized by Wilson 
Vance, Esq. Mr. McKinnis resided on the Blanchard, six miles 
below Findlay. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kepler had lived together happily for near half a 
century, and raised a family of six daughters and two sons. 

Thomas Warren, of Defiance says: "My In'Otlier- in-law, Montgomery 
Evans, established himself in business, as an Indian trader, farmer, and real 
estate dealer, in Defiance, in 1818, or 1819, and occupied one of Winchester's 
block houses as a residence, during a period of about two years. He had been 
a soldier in the war of 1813, having enlisted in Chillicothe, in a company of 
rangers. 

" With a young adventurer named Parmenas Wasson, I first visited Defiance 
in 1823. On our route hither from Delaware county, which led through San- 
dusky, Tymochtee, and Fort Findlay, I passed through the Indian village then 
known as Ottawa Town, where we found many Indians assembled, and, as 
they were intoxicated, we pressed forward, and reached a crossing at Powell's 
creek, where we remained over night. Returning after a brief visit to the coun- 
try, we passed tlirough Ocanoxa's village (now Charloe), Forts Brown, Jen- 
nings, Amanda, Wapaukonnetta, and St. Mary's." 

Joshua Hilton, with his family, consisting of his wife and eight children, 
— seven sons and one daughter, — removed to the Maumee river, December 3, 
1838. Mr. Hilton had purchased his land the spring previous, and planted a 
crop of corn. The cabin he erected was the second known to have been occu- 
pied by white settlers, between Fort AVayne and Defiance — the first having 
been built by Mr. Rogers, five miles below Fort Wayne. Brice Hilton, of 
Brunersburg, at the age of 65 years, is the only member of the original family 
now in the Valley — the only sister, Mrs. Philbrick, residing near Cleveland, 
and his only surviving brother, Horace Hilton, being a citizen of Kansas. 

During the fall and winter of 1833-33, the following named families became 
occupants of lands between Defiance and Fort Wayne : Thomas Driver, Mrs. 
Hill (widow) and family, Benjamin Mullican, Thomas Warren, Peter Lumbar, 
Samuel Hughes, William jGordon, Oliver Crane, Samuel Reynolds, Samuel 
Gordon, Henry Hughes, Dennison Hughes, and Mr. Quick, (the last named a 
bachelor and Indian trader). 

During the following year (1833-34), Richard Banks, William Banks, Thomas 
Banks, Frederick W. Sperger, James Shirley, Gad Bellair, Gen. Horatio N. 
Curtis, Mr. Snook, and his sons, John, Willson, W. N. and Peter, and two fami- 
lies named Champion, removed to the Valley. 

Moses Heatley removed from Miami county, Ohio, cutting, a considerable 
portion of the distance, his own road- way for the passage of his ox team, draw- 
ing his family, bed, and goods, in the fall of 1834, and settled on Blodgett's 
Island, Auglaize river, three miles above Defiance. His family consisted of his 
wife and two children— only one of whom, J. B. Heatley, now survives, he 
having been a resident of Defiance and vicinity 48 years. 

Dr. Jonas Colby, a graduate of Dartmouth College, N. H., removed to Defi- 
ance in 1833, and is the oldest physician in practice on the Maumee river. The 
incidents of his early adventures in swimming over the swollen streams of the 
country, to reach his patients, would form a chapter of courage and peril tliat 
his professional cotemporaries of later years have not been under the necessity 
of encountering. His co-practitioners in early days, were Drs. Conant and 
White, of Maumee City, Dr. Peck, of Perrysl)urg, and Dr. Thompson, of Fort 
Wayne. 

Edwin Phelps, William A. and S. R. Brown, James S. Greer, Wm. Traverse, 
John and David Taylor, Dr. John Paul, Hugh J. and David W. Marcellus, Dr. 
George W. Crawford, Elijah Shipley, William and John B. Semans, Rev. San- 
ford C. Parkes, E. F. Lindenberger, C. L. Noble, Rev. Wm. B. Stowe, (who 
organized the first Presbyterian Church in Defiance) Rev. E. R. Tucker, Curtis 



Williams and Defiance Counties. 593 



Bates, (lawyer and State Senator,) Orlando and Alvaro Evans, (now of California,) 
Albert G. Evans, Allen Braucber, S. A. Sanford, Wm. AVall, E. C. Case, 
Charles V. Royce, Benjamin Bruhaker, James Cbenev, N. ]\r. Landis, Wm. D. 
Haymaker, Geo. B, Way. S. H. Greenlee, John H. Riser, Jehu P. Downs, C. 
C. Waterhouse, Addison Goodyear, Sylvester Medberry, G. W. B. Evans, and 
William Carter, in addition to otiiers heretofore and hereafter mentioned, 
were also early residents of Detiance. Among its early and enterprising busi- 
ness men," was Sidney S. Spragne. 

Rinaldo Evans, sou of Judge Pierce Evans, occupies the old homestead, en 
the opposite side of the river, below Defiance. 

Lost Creek, since changed to Farmer, was among the first townships settled 
by whites— the first inhabitant, Nathan Farmer, having removed to the town- 
ship in 1833. Miller Arrowsmith, in a communication which appeared in the 
Defiance Democrat, in 1871, gives his recollections as follows : 

My first visit to the township was in the fall of 1834. At this time, Nathan 
Farmer and John Hcckman lived on Section 1, and Keelin Leonard had raised 
a cabin on Section 2, on lands afterwards owned and occupied by Collin Tharj). 

A hunter had lived on the east side of Section !), and Findlay had lived 

in a hut on Lost Creek, in Section o2. But few entries of land had been 
made in the township. 

The next year a number of emigrants bought and moved on their land, of 
whom were Oney Rice, sr., Dr, Oney Rice, jr., "John Rice, Jacob Conkey, Widow 
Hopkins, W. G. Pierce, Randall Lord, and Lyman Langdon. These were from 
St. Lawrence county, New York; Levinus Bronson and William Powell, who 
were fnmi near Cleveland, Ohio; Isaac and William Wartenbe, David Com- 
stock, James Crane, Nathan Smith and William Mann, who were from Mus- 
kingum county, Ohio; Thomas Dew, from Hocking county; Elijah Lloyd and 
Darius Allen, whose homes in the east are not now recollected. I think that 
Isaac, Elisha and Collin Tharp came this j-ear frem Allen county, Ohio. 

About this time the township was organized and named Lost Creek. At the 
first election, there was not an officer in the township authorized to administer 
an oath. The people met and selected the Election Board, and one of their 
number swore a Clerk, who in turn qualified the other members of the Board. 
Many of the citizens had not gained a residence, liut they extended, by com- 
mon consent, the elective franchise to all the male population over twentj'-one 
years, and from their number elected their officers. Dr. Nice was afterwards 
elected a Justice of the Peace, and continued to fill this office for many years, 
administering justice in its mildest form. 

A good story is told of his administration in these early times. The first 
settlers were not rich ; their lauds were to be cleared, fenced and cultivated, 
betore they could realize returns Irom their labor. The Defiance merchants 
sold gcods and groceries on credit, adding heavy profits. The settlers made 
debts from necessity, which in most cases became due belbre their farms were 
yielding a profit to meet their payments for goods. The result was that the 
"merchants sent their accounts to the Justice for collection, and one amongst 
them was up )n himself. He notified the parties, who confessed judgment and 
entered bail for staj' of proceedings, not forgetting to give bail on the docket 
for the amount claimed from the Justice. 

The first marriage might have been noticed in a newspaper publisheil then 
in Perrysburg: 

"Married, September 10, 1834, by Jesse Haller, Esq., of Defiance townshij), 
Keelin Leonard, to Elizabeth Ice, all of Lost Creek township." 

The first death in the township, was that of the hunter in Section 9. The 
coffin was made by Obadiah Webb, who lived on the east bank of Bean creek, 
opposite to the farm now owned by Lyman Langdon. The coffin was lashed 
to a pole, and C;irried by Abraham Webb and William Kibble, on their shoul- 
ders, to the hunter's camp, a distance of nearly thirteen miles on a direct line, 



504 Defiance County — Miller Arrowsmith. 



and their route was tlirough the woods without a path to guide them. They 
crossed Bean creek at dusk, and with a pocket compass to guide them, and a 
hickory bark torch to light their way, they set out with their burden on their 
hmely route, and reached the hut at'3 o'clock in the morning. He was buried 
on the northwest quarter of Section 10 

Exceptions were taken to the name f)f the township, and it was changed to 
that of Farmer. This was changed at the instance of the citizens, because 
they thought it more appropriate, and it was aljo designed to perpetuate the 
name of the tirst settler. 

Uf the voters at the first election, Elisha Tharp is the only one now living 
in the township. Some of them have removed to other localities. 

Our place of voting was near the centre of Section — , where a log cabin 
had been built for this purpose, and was also used for a school house. Some 
years ago, a graveyard was located at this phice, and many of tlie pioneers 
have been gathered, one by one, to this place of burial, where their names are 
recorded on neat marble monuments." 



3IILLEII AllROWSMlTH. 

Mr. Arrowsmith was born in Champaign county, Ohio, March 14, 
1808, and was married in the same county July 1, 1832, to IMiss 
Celinda Caraway, also a native of the same county. Mrs. A. died 
at Defiance, August 10, 1847. 

The Hrst \isit of Mr. Arrowsmith to the jManmee Valley, was in 
Jane, 1833. He then bought land near Deliance, on which he set- 
tled in October following. Judge John Perkins w^is then County 
Surveyor, and, from age, and being engaged in other pursuits, he did not 
wish to perform the work of the office, and appointed Mr. Arrowsmith 
deputy County Surveyor, the duties of which office he discharged with 
accuracy and lidelity, during a period of lifteen years. He is one of 
the oldest surveyors in North Western Ohio. 

The General Assembly of Ohio, at its session of 18-15-46, elected 
Mr. Arrowsmith a member of the State Board of Equalization ; and 
he proved one of the most efficient members of that body. From 
1848 to 1852, he was Auditor of Defiance county; and Postmaster 
at Arrowsmith's, duiing a period of about fifteen years. Excepting 
minor offices, those enumerated fill the measure of his public life. 
Mr. Arrowsmith might have continued in office, and filled a 
larger space in the public eye, but his tastes and inclinations led 
him, in 1852, to engage in agriculture, and in this favorite pursuit, 
on his well cultivated acres, and among books and friends, in Farmer 
township, he is spending the evening of his days. He is now sixty- 
five years of age, and in full possession of physical and mental 
vigor. The pioneers of the Valley are ever specially welcomed under 
his hospitable roof. 



THE LATE HORACE SESSIOIfS. 



This gentleman, whose moral, social, and professional qualities 
were widely known and highly valued, throughout the Maumee Val- 
ley, was born in Painesville, Ohio, April IG, 1812, and removed to 





'^Jf—^ 



1 




XK ^ ^f^^2-<l.^^ 



Defiance County — Horace Sessions. 595 



Defiance in 1833. He was married to Miss Lucia C. Candee, Jan- 
nary 3, 1854, at Watertown, New York, and died at Adrian, Michi- 
gan, June G, 18G8. Mr. S. left no children living, — two having die( 
in infancy, and one daughter at the age of Hve or six years. Afte. 
his decease, his widow returned to her former home, at Watertown, 
New York ; but within the last two years removed to Painesville, 
where she now resides. 

A meeting of the bar, held at the Court House, Defiance, on the 
l5th of June, 1868, at which William C. Holgate, — who, during a 
period of more than a quarter of a century, was his intimate asso- 
ciate and friend, — was made chairman, and Edwin Phelps secretary, 
will convey an idea of the esteem in which Mr. Sessions was held 
by his professional brethren. Upon accepting the position tenflered 
him, Mr. Holgate addressed the meeting as follows : 
Brethren of the Bar : 

Horace Sessions is gone ! The Allwise Being, who rules and governs the 
affairs of men, has taken him to himself. He died at Adrian, Michigan, on 
the Gtli iust., where he had stopped off to visit a friend, as he was returning 
from the Republican National Convention, at Chicago, which he had been 
attending as a delegate. I was present at his deatli, and with otticr friends and 
citizens of ©ur town, accompanied his remains to Painesville, in this State, 
where, on the 9th, they were interred, in a beautiful cemetery, near the tomb 
of a loved little daughter, and of a father, a mother, and otlier relatives. 

Our relations with him, and his wortli. require something more than the 
usual resolutions of respect and sympathy. 

Being the first lawyer that ever settled and stayed here, he may truly be call- 
ed the father of the Defiance Bar. He was also a pioneer of our valley, and 
the son of a noble patrist of our country, and pioneer of our State. In 1791, 
under Antliony Wayne, his father was in the great battle that first secured the 
white man possession of, and title to, the lands we occupy, and he helped to 
construct the fort which gives our town its name. In 181)0, he settled on a 
farm near Painesville, and there, on the ICth day of April, 1812, Horace Ses- 
sions was born. He was a vigorous, stout boy, delighting in agricultural pur- 
suits, and in watching the habits and caring for the animals reared upon the 
farm. But, at the age of twelve years a great misfortune befel him. He was 
taken down ^vith a severe illness, resulting in a fever sore tliat racked his con- 
stitution, shattered his nervous system, producing untold pain, and crippling 
him through his whole life. His father, dying in 1827, left him a poor, crip- 
pled boy, and a widowed mother and sisters in destitute circumstances. Find- 
ing that he would be unable to procure a living by the manual labor incident 
to farm work, he reluctantly reUnquished his favorite calling, and cast about 
to see what he could do to make a living for himself and his destitute relatives. 
He chose our profession. 

Being admitted to the bar, at the age of twenty-one, he first went down the 
Ohio and Mississippi, as far as Vicksburg. without finding a satisfactory loca- 
tion, when, returning, he came to the Maumee Valley, and, arriving at our 
town in 1«;33, he bcg'an the first practice of his profession. Defiance, at that 
time, was the county seat of Williams county, and to it Avas attached several 
other counties for judicial purposes. Though the field was entirely open, there 
being no other lawyer here, professional business was very limited. But Horace 
Sessions was poor, he had a mission to fulfill, and he would not be idle. In 
addition to his professional duties, he wrote in the county olfices, and taught in 
the district school. 

I see several present here, who, like myself, have had a life-long business 
acquamtance with him ; mine, perhaps, has been the longest, and of the most 



596 Defiance County — Horace Sessions. 



intimate character. Thirtj'-three years ago, accompanying my father from the 
State of New York, on a tour of exploration to the "Wabash, with an eye to a 
settlement at Fort Wayne, we spent a week or more, as we were passing, at 
Defiance. During that week, I first became acquainted with Horace Sessions, 
and I have often since thought that acquaintance fixed my destiny in the choice 
of a future home, and brought me, a year later, to come here to live. At the 
time, he was occupying a room in the second story of the brick building on 
lot 58, of the original plat of Defiance, which building was the Court House, 
and, 1 may add, the school house, and also "the meeting house" of the village. 
In the same room was kept the offices of the county. He invittd me to occupy 
the room with him, and continue the study of the law, which I had before 
begun. His bed was in the same room, and this we occupied together. From 
that time to the time of his decease, whilst a generation of men have passed 
from earth, we continuously occupied an ofliice together. 

From the time he came here, each summer he would go to the home of his 
aged mother, consoling and comforting her with his presence, and giving that 
material aid that relieved the vv'auts of herself and family. And glad was I, 
the other day, whilst assistinir at Paiuesville in the perfo]'mance of the last 
duties to the deceased on earth, to hear an aged and eminent statesman of that 
place say r "Mr. Sessions has been very generous with his father's family ; he 
has ever most bountifully provided for them." 

And here let me say, his generosity was not confined to his relatives alone. 
In a!l his dealings, he was liberal. Ever_y charitable enterprise and good cause 
he helped on. He was industrious, temperate, and frugal in all his habits. He 
cut his own wood at his office for years. He built his fires at his house. He 
soucfht property only to make himself independent, and to do good ; and in 
this God bountifully blessed him. as He will ever bless any man of like indus- 
try, temperance, carefulness, frugality, and honesty of purpose. 

As a lawyer, to understand, digest, and bring to a successful issue delicate, 
intricate aud complicated business matters. Horace Sessions had few or no su- 
periors ; aud I believe that no party, selecting him as theii- counsellor, ever had 
occ-ision to regret their choice. 

He was warin in his friendships, social in disposition, hospitable, unostenta- 
tious and mild in his manners. He was uniformly the same unruftled Horace 
Sessions, yesterday, to day, and to-morrow. Though unobtrusive and mild, 
within him was a heart, he has said to me, that never had a sensation of fear; 
which statement his truthfulness leaves me no reasons to doubt. It is a part of 
the history of tliat coumry, that his father "was the bravest man that ever 
lived on Grand River." Truly can we say, as we look back on the battle of 
life he has fought, Horace Sessions was a brave sou of that brave man. 

To him the summons came suddenly. His sickness was brief and severe. 
Loving hearts and willing hands did all that could be done to stay the dread 
approach of the destroyer. Confident that the trying hour had come, he calm- 
ly approached the grave, " like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about 
him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 

On motion, a committee of five, consisting of William Carter, Edwin Phelps, 
Hamilton Davison, William D. Hill, and Henry Newbegin, were appointed to 
draft resolutions expressive of the feelings of the members of this bar, which 
committee, through their chairman, Hon. William Carter, reported the fol- 
lowing : 

Whereas, By a dispensation of an all-wise Providence, our late associate 
and brother, Horace Sessions, has been removed from our midst by death, it is, 
by the Bar of Defiance county, as expressive of the great loss they have sus- 
tained. 

Resolved, That, in the death of Horace Sessions, the Bar of Defiance county 
has lost one of its oldest, ablest, most useful and worthy members, and this 
community one of its most worthy citizens. 





f \w I • 



"^W^ (i>??^<^o^ 



Defiance County — Wm. C. Ilolgate. 597 



Resolved, That we fincerely deplore the loss of our departed brother and 
associate, and shall revere his memory as one whose professional life was with- 
out blemish, and worthy of imitation. 

Resolved, That our heartfelt sj-mpathics are extended to the vridow and rela- 
tives of the deceased. 

Resolved, That these resolutions, toj^otlicr M-ith the proceedings of this meet- 
ing, be published in the Defiance papers, with a request that the ?ame be cop- 
ied in the several jxcipers published in the Maumcc Valley, and at Painesville, 
Ohio. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished bj' the Secretary to 
the widow of the deceased. 

On motion, the resolutions were received, and unanimously adopted. 

It was also resolved that the proceedings of this meeting be presented by 
the chairman to the Honorable Ju Ige of the Court of Common Pleas of Deti- 
ance county, at its next session, with the request that the same be entered upon 
the journal of said court. 

WILLIAM C. HOLGATE, Chairman. 

E. Phelps, Secretary. 

It may be added that intelligence of the death of no member of 
the old bar of the Mauraee Valley, produced a i'eeling of more gen- 
eral and profound sorrow^ among his professional brethren, than 
that occasioned by the loss of Mr. Sessions. 



WILLIA:\I C. HOLGATE. 

Curtis Holgate, residing at the time in Utica, Xew York, accom- 
panied by his son, the subject of this sketch, William C. Ilolgate, 
made a visit to the Maumee Valley in the spring and summer of 
1835. On this tiip he visited Manhattan, Toledo, Perrysburg, ]\rau- 
mee City. Napoleon and Defiance,, Ohio, and Fort Wayne and Hun- 
tington, Indiana. The journey was made on lioi'seback from Mau- 
mee City — (the horses being procured of Dr. Conunt) — and pur- 
chases of land made as follows : 

June 8, 1835, of Isaac Hull, 80 acres in sees. L'3 and 24, T. 4, R. 4, on north 
side of the Maumee, opposite Defiance, on which was situated the 
town plat of Williamstown ; and which pui'chase included the unsold 

lots of this town and five in Defiance, §3,500 

June 19, of Ignatius Byrnes, 95 GJ-lOO acres, on the south sice of the 

Maumee, in Indiana, near the Ohio State line . - 500 

June 25, of Judge Benjamin Leavell, an undivided part of o95 23-100 
acres, which embraced the town plat of Napoleon, and lands adja- 
cent— (H<^ratio G. Phillips, of Dayton, and Elnath^n Cory, of New 
Carlisle, Clark count}', Ohio, owning the remaining two-thirds of said 

property) 1 2,500 

June 25, of same, 117 95-100 acres, on the west side of the Auglaize, 
south and adjacent to Detiance, in sections 25 and 2G, and now be- 
ing a part of the town -. 2,500 

June 25, of same, one undivided half of 180 98-100 acres of sections 23 
and 34, and adjacent to the Maumee and Auglaizs r vers, and wliieh 
included the original town plat of Defiance — all which was deeded, 
except the lots then disposed of —Xloratio G. Phillips owning the other 
undivided half.. ...... ..,,..,.,., 7,500 



598 Defiance County — Wm. C. Holgate. 



October 17, 1835, of Dr. John Evans, part of the southeast qr., N. W. 
qr., sec. 26, T. 4 N., R. 6 E , 50 acres, which is now within the cor- 
porate limits of Defiance, and on which is situated the Plub and Spoke 
factory, etc. 2,730 

Total $18,23J 

Previous to this, about tlie year 18.32, Mr. Holgate purchnsed sev- 
eral towai lots in Fort Wayne, smd located about one thousand acres 
of land near the same place, in Indiana; and near the time of mak- 
ing the above described purchases, at Defiance, he invested some 
$7,000 in property at Manhattan. His Napoleon interest was sold 
and deeded to Horatio G. Phillips, in July, 1839. He moved his 
family to Defiance, consisting ot his wife, Eliza, daughter, 
Juliet, and two small children, Frances M. and A. Hopkins Holgate, 
and began boarding with Lyman Langdon, on Saturday, October 
7, 1837. On Monday, 27th of November, of the same year, he mov- 
ed into a house on lot 101, old plat of Defiance. Mr. Holgate died 
on the 15th of January, 1S40. 

William C. Holgate was living at Defiance at the time of the 
arrival of his father; — having established himself there the year 
alter the trip of 1835 was made, arriving on JMonday, 2d of May, 
1836 — and has uninterruptedly made that town his home to the pres- 
ent time. He was born at Burlington, Vermont, November 23, 
1814; graduated at Hamilton College, New York, in the summer of 
1834; and the same College conferred upon him the degree of 
A. M., in 1841. He commenced the study of law in the office of 
Willard Crafts, Esq., in Utica, immediately alter leaving College, 
and continued a student in his office up to the date of leaving for 
Defiance, in April, 1830. At the latter place, he entered the law 
office of Horace Sessions, Esq., continued his studies, and was admit- 
ted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio in the summer of 
1838. George T.Hickcox, Clerk of the Court, dying about this time, 
he was appointed to succeed him, which position he resigned in the 
spring of 1839, when he received the appointment of prosecuting 
attorney for the county of Williams, and began as such his first 
practice of the law. 

Mr. Holgate drafted the bill erecting the county of Defiance, in 
January, 1845, and, through his persistent efforts, and in face of a 
well-organized and powerful opposition, the bill became a law, on 
the 4th day of March of the same year. He was active in the 
organization of the first agricultural society for the county, in 184-8, 
and in getting up its first annual fair, in October, 1851. For the 
projection and construction of roads, aftording encouragement to 
manufacturing and kindred enterprises, and the care of all public 
interests affecting the town and county, he was ever vigilantly engag- 
ed. He suftered much from the bilious derangements incident to 
the climate in the first settlement of the country, being prostrated 
upon beds of sickness more than half of the time, 



Defiance County — Wm. C. Holgate. 599 



In the years 1851-52, the business prospects of Defiance seemed 
likely to be lost, on account of the projection and construction of 
railroads passing her on all sides, threatening to destroy her exist- 
ing trade, and future business prospects. Foreseeing the danger, 
Mr, liolgate's efforts, during these years, were unremitting in the 
work of securing for Defiance a railroad, that the town might be 
spared the destruction that menaced it. Trobably it was on account 
of enfeebled physical condition, resulting from over-work and the 
illness referred to, that his system broke down in 1853, and he sank 
in a state of congestion almost apoplectic. Unable to read or write 
for the greater part of the succeeding twelve years or more, he was 
compelled to give up the law practice, which he has never resumed. 
Though now comfortable, and capable of transacting much busi- 
ness, Mr. Holgate has never entirely recovered from the congestive 
attack mentioned. 

In March, 18G1, when the two sections of land that had been 
granted to the town some fourteen years previously for the Defi- 
ance Female Seminary, luid been forfeited for want of payment, 
and a bill was on its passage requiring the Auditor to sell the same, 
Mr. Holgate, volunteering his services, made a visit to Columbus 
and secured the passage of an act authorizing the lands still to be 
deeded on payment. The amount deliiu|uent Mr. Holgate ad- 
vanced from his own private funds, Mr. Sessions sharing the 
advancement with him, and so secured and saved to the town these 
1,280 acres and their growing avails. 

In all important schemes deviled to promote the best interests of the 
town and county of his residence, Mr. Holgate has been ever diligent 
and prominent. On the 5th of January, 1851, he was married to 
Miss Mary Hillrick, who died June G, 1SG5, leaving two children, 
W. Curtis Holgate, aged 18, November 29, 1872, and Fanny Maud 
Holgate, ag-d IG, October 2, 1872. 



According to the recollections of Frederick F. Stevens, who was a resident 
of Putnam county, iu ISi"), and removed to Defiance in 1820. the foUovving 
persons were then residents on the Auglaize below the mouth of the Hlan- 
chiu'd : Mr. Frazee, Thomas and Silas Mc(.Mish, William Bishop, Mr. Kava- 
uaugh, Christ' ipher Sroufe, Abel Crossley, Robert Foster, Isaac Carey (oppo- 
site the present, town of .Junction), Elias and Nathan Shirley, Abram and John 
Hudson, John Oliver, James Hudson, and Robert Shirley, senior and junior, 
who were living upon a farm part of which is now witbiu the corporation of 
Detiance. 

Defiance county wa^ erected March 4, ISl.T, and its territory was composed 
of eisht original "townships, taken from Williams, three from Heury, and a 
half township fiom Paulding. W. C Holgate, Esq., prepared the following 
exhibit of the population of this territory from the census returns of 1840: 
From W Uiams county : Defiance, !I44 ; Delaware, 201 ; Farmer, (now Farmer 
and Mark) 281; Hielisville, 67; Tiffin, 222; Washington, 9S ; Milford, 175. 
From Henry county: Adams, 188; Richland and Highland, (the latter then 
unorganized) r)42. "From Paulding county: The north half of Auglaize, 100. 
Total population of the territory in 1840," which formed the new county, and 
which had not been materially increased at the time of its formation in 1845, 
3,218. 



600 Defiance County — Statistics. 



The first federal census of Defiance county Avas returned in 1850, 
M'ben it exhibited a population of 0,9GG ; in IbGO. 11,886, and in 
18:0, 15,719. 

The twelve townships returned, severally, in ISTO, the following 
enumerations of inhabitants: Adams, 1,220 ; Defiance, 8,G15; Del- 
aware, 1,160; Farmer, 1,184; Ilicksville, 1,287; lli^^hland, 946; 
Mark (in 1851, taken irnm Farmer), 595 : Milford, l,55o ; Noble, 
867; K>chland, 1,194; Tiflin, 1,080 ; Washington, 1,016. 

The county has erected a Court House, one of the best, as regards 
style of architecture, interior arrangements, and cost considtred, in 
the State. 

The value of the public property of the county, is estimated at 
$205,000, tree of incumbrance, except a debt of $5,000, on account 
of new Court House. The County Infirmary pays an annual sur- 
plus into the Treasury exceeding $1,000. There is probably no 
county in Ohio that, from its organization, has been under more ju- 
dicious financial management. The taxable valuation of the county 
in 1845, was $484,004-' in 1871, $4,792,797. 

The first officers of the county, alter the ogauizatioii of Williams, 
and whose offi'jes were then located at the then county seat, at Defiance, have 
been heretofore slated. Those now in office are the following: Probate 
Judge, J. J. Greene ; Clerk, Edwin Phelps; Prosecuting Attorney,"Silas T. 8ut- 
phen; Sherifi', J. B. Ilootmau; Coroner, John H. Kiser ; Auditor, John H. Conkle; 
Treasurer, Asa Toberen; Recorder, Lewis Neill ; Survej'or, D. H. English; 
Commissioners, Wm. E. Maxwell, Adam Wiihelm and Isaac Garver. 

The town was laid out in Novemljer, 1822, by Benjamin Leavell, 
of Piqua, and Horatio G. Phillips, of Dayton, and acknowledged 
by Charles Gunn, J. P., April 18, 1823, and recorded the 28th of 
the same month in the records of Wood county, by Thomas E. 
McKnight, Recorder. The county seat of Williams was established 
at Defiance, on condition of a donation by the proprietors of one- 
th'rd ot their lots, and erecting a jail, in 1825. Benjamin Leavell, 
in 1835, sold his wlioie interest in the town and vicinity of Defiance, 
to Curtis Ilolgate. In the winter of 18o9-40, the action ot the 
commissioners removed the county seat to Bryan, 

The several towns, during the throe decades, exhibited the fol- 
lowing census restdts : 

Defiance, population in 1850, 81)0; in 1860, 932; in 1870,2,750. 

Bruuersburg, in 1850, 169; in 1860. 194; in 187t\ 185. 

Evansport,'iu 1850, 165; in 1860, 218; in 1870, 191. 

It will be discovered that Brunersburg and Evansport have retro- 
graded, while the population of Defiance exhibits results that must 
be most gratifying to those interested in its progress. Of the five 
largest cities of Ohio, Toledo made the greatest advance during the 
last decade ; and of the eight lesser, Defiance is first — exceeding, 
indeed, in ratio of growth, any city in Ohio. 

The late Secretary of State, General Sherwood, in his analysis of 
the per cent, of increase made by eight of the smaller cities, during 
eht period between 1860 and 1870, gives the following results: De- 



Defiance — The Goiinty and Town 601 



fiance, 195; Youngstown, 193; Akron, 184; Canton, 114; Spring- 
field, 80 ; Portsmouth, 67 ; Steubenville, 05, and Newark, -io. 

Commercially, Defiance is most favorably situated, being at the 
confluence of two important rivers, which bear upon their surface 
large values of timber, and also possessing the advantage of two 
canals, which guarantee, during st-asons of navigation, not only 
cheap freights, but also aftord most valuable water power. Added 
to these are the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway, wliicli has a 
repair shop at Defiance, and the Baltimore, Pittsburg & Chicago 
Eailway Company are now constructing their trunk line through 
the town. The appearances and probabilities indicate that the fed- 
eral census of 1880 will exhibit a per cent, of growth, as compared 
with the returns of 1870, fully equal to that of the decade to which 
Gen. Sherwood calls attention in his report. 

The value of exports of ship timber from Defiance, it is claimed, 
exceeds that of any town in Ohio. 

In the town there are eight churches— 3 i^Ietbouist, 1 Catholic, 1 Presbyte- 
rian, 2 Lutheran, 1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist ; two newspapers — the Defiance 
Democrat, by J. J. Greene, and the Defiance Express, by F. Brooks ; one pub- 
lic and three private schools. 

The banking facilities have grown from a small and modest beginning, 
some ten years since, to their present magnitude and usefulness. The business 
was first instituted by Ahira Cobb and Virgil Squire, under the firm name of 
Cohb & Squire. Mr. Cobb, being a heavy capitalist, and extensive business 
man, of Cleveland, his time was necessarily given to that city, while the bank- 
ing business, at Defiance, was conducted by Mr. Squire, who, from his long ex- 
perience of 30 years in active mercantile life, was eminently fitted to judge of 
the wants and needs of business men, and in whose hands the banls speedily 
assumed growing and enlarged capabilities, — so much so, that, in the course of 
a few years, it demanded an extended basis, and was, January 1, 1873, re-or- 
ganized under the National Banking act. by Mr. Squhe and his son Edward, 
who, during the year previous, had, l)y experience and observation, become 
thoroughly qualified for the discharge oi" their several duties. The new bank 
was chartered as tlie "Defiance National Bank," with a paid up capital of 
•1:100,000— the father and son being chosen, the one President, and the otiier 
cashier, with a Board of Directors composed of some of the most prosper- 
ous business men of th'? town, as tbllows: Henry Kahlo, Virgil Squire, .lames 
A. Orcutt, Joshua P. Otlcy, "William Lauster, John Crowe, and Edward Squire. 
.Judging from results thus' far, a highly remunerative and exceedingly prosper- 
ous career can safefy be predicted for th^s bank. 

Among the important industries of the town, is the Defiance ]\[anufacturing 
Company, wliich organized and commenced business on a small bisis, Januarj- 
1, 1870, and. in the year ending 1871. tlie sales had reached, including those 
made by their newly-cstablislied brancli at Logansport, Indiana. .«< 150.000, and 
had given employment to 150 men. Al)0Ut the close of January, 1873, a lire 
destroyed the shops and machinery, involving heavy loss: but the Company, 
undismayed by the disaster, liave re-built, and are again in operation witli in- 
creased facilities, and arc now enal)l('(l to produce daily, of spokes, 15,000; ot 
lumber wagon hubs, 100 set; and of 1)ent work, a proportionate amount— con 
stituting it the most extensive manufacturing establishnu'nt of its cliaracter in 
the Maumee Valley. The business is managed by Henry Kahlo, President ; E. P. 
Hooker, Secretary, and John Crowe, Superintendent. 

In other industries, the town has also two giist, one saw, one planing, 
and one woollen mill ; one stave factory ; one stove foundry ; three 
furniture factories; one carriage, and two carriage and wagon shops ; six black- 



602 Paulding County — Statistics, So. 



smith do ; one machine do ; two harness do ; one mirble do ; ten boot and 
shoe do, and three millinery do. Four hotels ; three livery stables ; five dry 
goods, three clothing, one agricultural machine, three dru^, and three family- 
grocery stores ; thirty-two family groceries and saloons ; five meat markets ; 
one news depot ; three jewelers ; two cabinet sales rooms ; three tobacconists ; 
three brick yards ; one brewery; two insurance agencies, representing fifteen 
companies. 

The town of the county next in importance to Defiance, is Hicksville— these 
two being the principal points in the county which will be upon the line of the 
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, now being constructed. At Hicksville, also, the 
Fort Wayne and Detroit road will cross the B. and O. road. As regards 
health, no town in the Maumee Valley exceeds Hicksville. Its "supply of pure 
water, from Artesian Wells, is abundant for all uses. 



PxVULDING COUNTY, 

Formed April 1, 1820, was named from John Paulding, a native of 
Peeksville, N. Y., and one of the three militia men who captured 
Major Andre, in the war of the revolution, and who died in 1818. 
The county was organized in 1839. 

The population of the county in 1830, Avas IGl; in 1810, 1,034; 
in 1850, 1,7GG; in 18G0. 4,945, and in 1870, 8 544. 

The returns of the census of 1870, exhibited the following as the 
census of the several townshii)S : 

Aug'aize, 788; Benton, 404; Blue Creek, 1G3; Brown, 1,140; 
Carryall, 1,087; Crane, l,G8tJ; Antwerp, 717; Emerald. 717; Har- 
rison, 304; Jackson, 5oG; Latty, 294; Paulding, 448; Washington, 
957. 

General Horatio N. Curtis is an old resident of the county. In a com- 
munication to the Antwerp Gazette, he states that he made his second visit to 
the county on the 10th of jMarch, 1825. ''At this time, Defiance was quite a 
small village, containing one small store, one tavern, and some five or six fami- 
lies. Isaac lluli kept a store on t!ie north side of the Maumee, opposite Defi- 
ance, and had an extensive trade with the Indims. 

"Among the first settlers of what is now Delaware township, in Defiance 
county, were Monto;omery Evans, William Snook, Tiiomas Warren, and Sam- 
uel and Dennison Huglies, who settled ther^ in 1823-2i. Soon after, Gavin W. 
Hamilton and Jacob Platter moved in. The first death that occurred, was 
Andrew, son of Jacob Platter. 

" The two first justices of the peace, were Oliver Crane and Montgomery Evans. 
The next township organized was Crane, wh ch extended south and west from 
Delaware towuship to the State line. The township derives its name from 
Oliver Crane. Among the first ."^ettlers of what is now Crane township, were 
Oliver Crane, William Gordon, Ephiaim Seely and Samuel Reynolds, wlio 
settled in 1838-24. Samuel Gordon and Dennison Hughes moved to the town- 
ship in the early part of 1825. The first justices of "the peace elected were 
Thomas P. Quick and H. N Curtis. The first marriage in what is now Crane, 
was solemnized by Oliver Crane, who joined in holy wedlock a Mr. Young to 
Miss Sheny. 

" About this time, Brown township was organized. This township was up 
the Auglaize, south of Defiance. The first settlers there were Shadrack Hud- 
son, Isaac Carey, John Kingery and Christopher Sronfe. The township took 
its name from a small fort or stockade that was built by a part of General Har- 
rison's army during the second war with Great Britain. It occupied the point 



PaiMing County — Early Settlers. 603 



at the junction of the Big and Little Auglaize rivers. A part of the pickets or 
pallisades were still standing, and seen by the writer in passing down the 
Auglaize river in the spring of 1825. This was called Fort Brown, and was, I 
think, so marked upon the early maps of the country. 

"The next township organized was Carryall, which took its name from a 
large rock in the middle of the Maumee river. It was so called by the French 
on account of its resembling a vehicle of that name. This stone is about one 
mile above the village of Antwerp. Carryall township lies Avest ot Crane. 
Among the first settlers were William Banks, Beason V. Simrrier, David 
Applegate and Thomas Kuuyan, who settled there in 1827-£8. Tiie fiist mar- 
riage that took place was that of Phillip Murphey to Miss Nancy Knnyan, and 
was solemnized by IT. N. Curtis, then justice ot the peace, in October, 1830. 
The three townships last named are now witliin the limits of Paulding count}'. 

" The first Associate Judges were Nathan Eaton, John Hudson and Oilman 
C. Mudgett, who met in the fall of 1889, and ap]iointed II. N. Curti^ Clerk j9ro 
tern., and Andrew J. Smith, Sheriff. The first Court was held in the spring of 
1840, Hon. Emery D. Potter presiding, in the then fiourishing village of New 
Eochester, at that time containing some twenty families, and the most suitable 
place in all the county to hold a Court. (There is now scarcely a nuirk of all 
its former greatness Veraainiug.) From there the Court and coun'y business 
were removed to Charloc, iu''l841— the county seat, meantime, having been 
established at that point, and continuing there until removed to its pre j.nt loca- 
lion. The bounty on wolf scalps in the early settling of the counij , together 
with the large quantities of furs and peltries taken by the tvapjicrs and hunters, 
formed quite a revenue, and assisted much in paying taxes, and in procuiing 
the common necessaries of life. 

" This county, in early time, was one of the favorite hunting grounds of the 
Indians, and they yielded their richt of dominion to the ' (hemocoman,' or 
white man, with reluctance. It was noted lor the abundance and fine quality 
of the furs and peltries taken within its limits. 

" I recollect, while acting as Clerk of the Coiirt, to have had candidates for 
marriage frequently pay me my fees in raccoon skins for granting the marriage 
license. One case I well recollect, of having been called upon to marry a 
couple ; and having done so, the gentleman informed me that he bad nothing 
to pay me for my services. I told him, all right ; but in the fall they gathered 
and sent me a fine lot of hickory nuts as compensation for my services. 

" The first trading house in the county was opened by Tbomas P. Quick in 
1826, for the purpose of obtaining lurs and peltries from the Indians. The first 
citizen's store in the county was opened in the fall of 1829, by the writer. The 
first white man that settled in the county was John Driver, a silversmith, who 
made broaches and ear-rings tor the Indians." 

Among the carlv settlers at Clrarloe, were John Taylor, (now of Perrysville,) 
John W. Ayers, George H. Phillips and A. H. Palmer; and at the Junction, 
Capt. Dana"CGlumbia,'"Dr. Henry Marcellus, and Capt. Thomas Lough. 

General Curtis was well acquainted with the Indian, Occanoxa, with whom 
he frequently had business transactions. He was chief of a band numbering 
about six hundred, his town occupying the present site of Charloc. lie was a 
laro-e powerfully-built Indian, but advancine: years had made inroads upim his 
constitution. He was naturally ugly, and when intoxicated, mahcious. On 
one occasion, visitins the store of General Curtis for the purpose o_l trading, 
and beinc under the^influence of licpior, he was describing, in a ferocious man- 
ner his ancient feats in scalp-taking. This fighting of his old bailies against 
white women and children over again, upon his own premises, was not agree- 
able to the General, and in a moment of excitement he advanced upon the 
Indian and knocked him to the ground. .. 

William and John Moss, brothers, and natives of England, visited 1 aulding 
county in 1831, and established themselves as residents the year foll(r^.ing. 
The patent for the land entered at the Piqua Laud Office, for the >, E. K^r. ol 



604 Van Wert County- -Population^ &c. 



Sec. 26, T. 2 N., E. 3 E., (now Jackson townsliip,) bears date May 11, 1835 ; 
and that for the land of his brother John bein^ on Sec. 24 adjoining, bears the 
same date. These brothers were probably the tirst white settlers in that Section 
of Panlding county, excepting, possibly, one family on the Little Auglaize, 
named Earl. 



VAN WERT. 

This comity was foruied April 1, 1820; uiid, like Williams and 
Pattldino^, named from one of the captors of the unfortunate Andre — 
Isaac Van Wert. The county, at the time of its formation, had few 
white inhabitants, and until J83G was attached to Mercer county for 
civil purposes. 

The first Court was held at Willshire. October 3, ]837, by Associ- 
ate Judofes Joshua Watkins, Benjamin Griffin, and Oliver Stacey. 

The first session of the Commissioners was a special one, also con- 
vened at Willshire, on the 29th of April, 1830. 

At the time of its organization, Van Wert consisted of twelve 
townships, only four of which, namely: Pleasant liidge, Willshire 
and Jennings, were organized. 

" Davis Johnson settled in Harrison Township, 5 miles north of the town of 
Willshire, in April, 1836. At that time, in Willshire, were the following fami- 
lies : James Majors, Sr., and William Majors, Jr., (the latter having no family,) 
and the following sons of the former, part of whom had families : David, 
Robert, Jonathan, George, James, Jr., and William, Jr. ; Charles Mount, (mer- 
chant,) Henry Reichard, (merchant ) Wm. Case, (the tirst Co. Treasurer,) Daniel 
Cross, (blacksmith,) Thorn, Harper, and Wm. Purdy. At this date there was not 
an inhabitant north of him to the Manmee River. Willson, (tirst surve.yor.) and 
Ansel Blossom, then the oldest settler resident of the town, who came to "Willshire 
in 1819. On the St. Mary's, ten miles above Willshire, were the families of John, 
Jacob, and Peter Bolenbaucher, and Solomon Harzack. At the Presidential elec- 
ion of 1836, there were 15 votes polled in the township of Willshire, which then 
embraced all Van Wert county, and Black Creek township, Mercer county. At 
the election, held October, i8o7, a ticket was formed, regardless of party 
interests, on the morning of the election, and received the unanimous vote of 
the electors. 

"The first public sale of lots in the town of Van Wert was made on the 17th 
of June, 1837' 

Mr. Johnson continued on his first homestead, which he yet owns, though 
having at several elections been chosen to the office of County Sm'veyor, until 
1854, when he removed to Van Wert, where he continues to reside." 

William Johns removed to Harrison township in October, 1837, and in 1839 
to Pleasant township, until his death, which occurred December 4, 1871. In 
the first years of his residence he was connected with the Indian trade — buying 
chiefly for the Hollisters, of Perrysburg. 

Jacob Goodwin removed to the pi'esent lownsliip of York, in December, 
1834. "Peter and John K. I'larter came to the neighborhocsd about the same 
date. Washington Mark, John Rich, and Benjamin Griffin, liad preceded him 
a few months, and were then the only inhabitants of Jennings Prairie. The 
only survivors of those named above are Peter Harter and myself. Mr. Harter 
is one of the most advanced in years among the early pioneers of Van \Vert 
county." 

.loseph Gleasou removed to Pleasant township. Van Wert county, in August, 
1837, and in December, 1839, to the town of Van Wert, where he yet resides. 
" In 1837 there were only two families in Van Wert — those belonging to Daniel 



Van Wert County — Population, (&c. 605 



Cook and John F. Dodds, with whom cnme William Parent. The families of 
James G., John, Adam, Thomas, Robert, and Ilii.nh Gillilaud, William, John, 
and James Young, Hill, John Poole, William Priddy, John Mark, Peter Wills, 
David King, and Oliver Stacey, were living east of town, on or near " ihe 
Ridge ;" and on Jennings Prairie resided Wnshington Mark, Benjamin Griffin, 
John K. and Peter Harter, Jacob Goodwin and John Case. West, on the 
Ridge, were the families of James and Samuel Sladdox, William Miller, George 
Baney, and William Bronson. 

There were no residents in the north part of the coimty. On a trip to Defi- 
ance as late as 1840 or 1841, he found no settlement between Van Wert and the 
mouth of the Little Auglaize. 

Dr. P. John llines, the first physician, and yet living, removed to the town 
in 1838. The Gillilauds, the Ilflls, and John ISIark, came in the year 1835. 
The first named family and Peter Wills cut 20 miles of the track Tor the road 
known as the Bucyrus and Fort Wayne road, conmiencing about 4 miles west 
of Van Wert. The road followed the Indian trail. 

Ellas Evers removed to the township now known as Union, in October, 1839. 

The following were the inhabitants of the town of Van Wert in 1842 : 

J. M. Barr, S. Engleright, Wm. Parent, Joseph Gleason, Samuel Clark, E. R. 
Wells, Thomas R. Alott, William Thorn, Llanicl Cook, David Fisher, Thomas 
R. Kear, John W. Lown, (who removed to Van Wert in June, 1840,) Isaac 
Doherty, Robert Gillilaud, Dr. P. John Hincs, David Richey, Jacob Thorn, 
John Roach, George McManama, Thomas Thorn, Samuel Parent, James 
Graves, William Caton, William aud Jacob Stripe, Joshua and Isaiah Shaffer, 
George Cress, William Fronefield and Reuben Frisbie. 

The nearest water mills were at Fort Waj-ne And Piqua ; though there was a 
horse mill at which corn and buckwheat were ground on Jennings Prairie, and 
another in Union township, iMercer county. Little wheat was then raised. 
The "arm-strong," or hand-mill — the stones being " nigger heads," and turned 
by hand — would, by dint of hard labor, turn out a peck of corn meal during 
the day, and found a place beside a hand-loom in nearly every household. 

Population of A"an Wert comity in 1S30, 49; in 1840, 1.577; in 
1850, 4,793; in 1860, 10,238; in 1870, 15,823. 

In 1871, the tax valuation of real and personal propert}' amounted 
to $5,065,623. 

The first officers elected Avere, Clerk, Ansel Blossom ; Recorder, 
same; Sheriff, Wm. Major; Eecorder, Charles Mount; Commission- 
ers, Jesse Atkinson, Joshua Goodwin, and William Priddy ; Assessor, 
John Kuth. 

The following are the county officers in 1872-73 : A. W. Baker, 
Probate Judge; Julius A. Gleason, Auditor; George W. Day, Clerk, 
James L. Price, Prosecuting Attorney ; John Seaman, Treasurer ; 
Abraham B. Gleason, Sheriff; P. C. Conn, Piecorder : James W. 
Rimer, Surveyor; A. N. Krout, Coroner; Samuel Miller, Abijah 
Goodwin, and" Abraham Balyeat, Commissioners. 

The town of Van Wert was laid out on the 30th of :March, 1835. 
George Marsh, James Watson Riley, and Peter Aughinbaugh being 
the original proprietors. The last addition, by Judge Wm. L. Ilel- 
fenstein, was made on the 29th of August, 1840. 

Population of the town in 1850, 268; in 1800, 1,015 ; in 1870, 2,- 
625, Valuation of real and personal estate, in J 871, $806,901. 

The St. Louis and Toledo Railway will cross the P. F. W. and C. 
R. W. at Van Wert, passing through Kalida to Ottawa. 



GOfi Pidnam County — Early Inliahitants. 



An error having occurred in stating the popnlation of Delphos, 
pnge 461, it is here re-stated : In LSoO, 374 ; in 1800, 425 : in 1870, 
1,GG7. The taxable basis in the Van AVert portion of Delphos 
amounting to about one-third the part included in Allen county, 
M-as, in 1872, 8142,089. 

Willshire is the oldest town in tlie county, having been iuunded in 
1822 by Capt. liiley, who was prominently identilied with the early 
history of JS'orth Western Ohio, and wlio made the first survey of 
United States lands in the Maumee Valley. In 1872, Willshire had 
a population of 208. 

lu Van Wert there are nine cliurches — 1 Presbyterian ; 1 M. E. ; 1 English 
and one German Lutheran ; 1 Baptist; 1 Disciple; 1 Catholic; 1 Evangelical 
Protestant ; and one African M. E. A new public school building, ata cost ex- 
ceeding $40,000, has been erected within the last two years, which the State 
Superintendent of Schools pronounces the best, considering its cost, erected 
within the last ten years. 

Fully six hundred thousand dollars are invested in the following named 
manufacturing industries : 5 stave factories ; 1 foundry ; 2 steam flour mills ; 

2 planing mills ; 1 saw-miii ; 4 brick yards ; 1 hub and spoke factory ; 1 woolen 
mill ; 3 cabinet factories ; 3 wagon and 2 carriage factories ; 3 hainess shops ; 

3 marble sho])s ; 1 lumber yard, selling pine dressed lumber ; 1 broom-handle 
factory ; 1 tile factory ; 7 shoe and 3 tailor shops ; 1 ashery ; 1 brewery ; 1 flax 
mill ; 1 cheese factory and 3 cooper shops. Eighteen steam engines are work- 
ing wiihin and directly outside the corporation. 

'jhe banking business is in the bauds of the First Xalinnal and the Van Wert 
County Bank. 

The Van Wert ^^/?/t'^;«, J. H. Foster, editor, and Van Wert Tim€s,\Y. II. Cly- 
nier, editor, are issued from establishments well supplied with material for exe- 
cuting superior job printing. There are also 4 hotels ; six general merchandise 
stores; I'd grocery and provision stores ; 2 produce warehouses ; 4 drug stores ; 3 
clothing stores ; 7 boot and shoe stores ; 1 dress-maker and 3 milliners ; 2 jewelry 
stores; 3 hardware stores; 3 tin and stove stores; 3 livery and sale stables; 6 
sewing machine depot'^ ; 1 fancy furnishing store; 3 loliacco and cigar stores. 



PUTNAM. 

This Cijunty, formed April 1, 1820, was named from Gen. Israel 
Putnam, an officer of historical fame connected Avith the American 
Revolution. Until 1834 it was attached to Williams county for 
judicial purposes. 

Frederick F. Stevens, wlio originally settled in Putnam county, but removed 
to Defiance in 182G,says: " On the Blanchard, in lS2o, one mile above its mouth, 
resided John Ridenour, and at the junction of that stream with the Auglaize, 
Andrew Craig, who claimed to have been the first white settler in Putnam 
county. Excepting these two, there were no white families on the Blanchard 
below Findlay. Henry Wing had previously settled near the mouth of Blanchard, 
but abandoned his place, and removed to "Defiance. Sebastian Sroufe was on 
the Auglaize, one mile above Blanchard's Fork, and Wm. Bowen 1} miles 
above Jlyers' ]\Iill, or * Kilkannon's ripple ;' and yet above these, on the 
Auglaize, Ellas Wallace, James J. Martin. Daniel Sullivan, David Murphey, 
(who also claimed to have been the first white settler in Putnam county;) Kufus 
Carey, (24 miles below Fort Jennings,) and a Mr. Harris, then the onlV inhabi- 
tant at Fort Jennings. Yet above the Fort were Mr. Hill, Joseph Sutton, Wm. 



Putnam County — Early Inliahitants. 607 



Cochran, Josiah Closson.John Welch, Dauicl anrnVm. Snndcrhind, Thos. and 
Wm. Berryman, and Samuel Washburn. 

John Lang made a publication in the Deiphos Herald, containing the 
following statement : 

" The Indians remained in this neighborhood, their last encampment being 
at Sulphur Springs, until the year 1>8 i, and below Fort Jennings as late as 
18o9. Settlements were made at Fort Jennings in 18;jl, when Voa der pjnbz, 
John Wellman, and others, settled there, and were soon after joined by Henry 
Jos-eph Boehmer. Disher, Peters, Eaabe, Rader and Sbroeder, ' sciualted ' on 
Jennings as early as 18u2." 

Judge George Skinner, who removed to Kalida in 1880, and is yet a resident 
in th:it neighborhood, says : " David Mnrphey was the first white settler in this 
county — residing in a house he had built of poles at the mouth of Blanchard. 
The first house built was by two men and one woman, a mile above the mouth 
of Blanchard. The first county Court was held in the house of Christian 
Sarber, halt a mile south of Kalida — Wm. L. Helfenstein presiding as Judge, 
and the family table serving as Judge's and Clerk's desk, bar table, etc., and tlic 
Judge making use of the bed for a seat. The jury held their private consulta- 
tions in the woods. John Sarber, Christian Sarber, and Ezra Hicks, members 
of the first grand jury, are yet living. 

" The third order issued by the Auditor read as follows : 

' " To the Treasurer of Putnam county, Ohio : Pay William Treat three dol- 
lars and eighty cents for services as pack horse in running the Napoleon road.' 

" On the" Court record of 183G, I find this entry : 'The Court appoint James 
Taylor Clerk j5r<? tern., in place of Daniel W. Gray, resigned.' William ('Com- 
modore') Phillips obtained a renewal of his tavern license. Marriage licenses 
were granted to David Stoufer and Elizabeth Niccwarner, John Armstrong and 
_ Elizabeth Strain, Christian Lugibill and Catharine Stouter. 

" Jennings creek took its name from Col. Jennings, who led a body of men 
there fromFort Recovery and built a stockade at the junction (f that stream 
with the Auglaize. Col. Jennings died and was buried here. Ottawa river 
was named from the Indian tribe who had their hunting grounds along its course. 
The name of Hog Creek had it? origin in the fact that, during the war of lbl2, 
some white men living near Piqua undertook to drive a lot of hogs to the mili- 
tary garrisons on the Maumee; and having reached this stream, which they 
fornd much swollen, and becoming alarmed at the hostile movements of the 
Ir.diins, they undertook to force their stock across, some of which reached the 
opposite shore, another portion perished in the waters ; but the most remained 
upon the first bank, and all were left to their fate by the owners, who made a 
rapid retreat homewards. The surviving hogs multiplied and replenished the 
wilderness. Hence the name of 'Hog Creek, '_ or ' Swinouia,' as Count Cof- 
finberry, under a poetic inspiration, designated it. 

" Surar Creek derived its name from the maple orchards which supplied the 
Indians at Charloe with their sugar; Plum Creek, from the annual wealth of 
wild plums that its rich bottoms supplied, ' without money and without price ;' 
and Cranberry, from the numerous marshes that bore that fruit in its vicinity. 
Riley and Deer Creeks were named by the Government Surveyor, Capt. James 
Riley; and Blanchard, by an Indian trader, who was the tirst white settler 
upon its margin. 

" The first store in the county was established by an Induvn trader on bec- 
tion 16, Liberty township. The first general muster was held at Ottawa, in 
1839, at which all the able-bodied' sovereigns' of the county weregalhered, with 
plenty of ' corn dodgers,' music and whiskey." 

Among the veterans at Gilboa, on the Blanchard, were Andrew, Thomas R. 
find WilHam :McClure, John P. Flemming, Otho and John Crawtis, Elisha and 
Isaac Stout Nathaniel M. Creiirhton, Josei>h Ilickerson, Matthew Chambers, 
Abraham Hardin, Samuel and Jesse Hall, Wm. B. Thrap, Colonel I\Iiltou C. 
Ewing, Stanberry Sutton, Dr. Hiram Alford and Dr. 11. Luce. 



608 Putnam County — Pioneers, &g. 



At Croghan Post OfScc, wbicb place was afterwards Shannon, and now BlufT- 
ton, Allen couutj', were the families of Daniel W. Goble, Mr. Viers, John 
Amstutz, John Carnahan, John JMcIIenry, John Steiuer, Josiah and Budd 
Gaskill, and Hugh Lee. 

At Pendleton were Joseph Patterson. Dr. H. Day, Mr. KilhefFer and Mr. Hamil- 
ton ; at Columbus Grove, Capt. Fred. Frucbey, John Bogartand Mr. Turner ; at 
Ottawa and vicinity, Dr. C. T. Pomero}% Wm. and Jonathan Y. Sackett. Wm. 
Henderson, George Aguer, Moses Sutton, John Race, James Clark, Christian 
Huber, Wm. Galbreath, James F. Adgate, Dr. C. M. Godfrey, Michael Row, 
Samuel Runj-an, John and David Cox and Wm. AVilliaras; at Glandorf, Rev. 
John W. Horstman, Henry Ridenour and Ferdinand Breidike, who settled in 
1883, and in the same year, in the neighborhood, John F. Kahle, tlie first Ger- 
man naturalized in Putnam county. At an early date, also, were Gasper and 
Wm. Schierloh, Henry Umverfert, B. H. Kemper, Lewis Baker, and Messrs. 
Bookhold, Osliamp and Mohrman. 

On the Blancbard, below Glandorf, were W. Lcemaster, Henry Wing, John 
Snyder, Nutter Powell, John P. Simons, Solomon Carbaugh, Joel Wilcox, Dil- 
man Switzer, John Ridenour, Wm. Bell and Mr. Shank. 

At Kalida and neighborhood the following were among the early residents : 
Winchton and Orville Risley, Francis H Gillett, Dr. Moses Lee, James Wells, 
George J. Wichterman, James H. Vail, Jacob Bean, Robert McCreary, Robert 
and Isaac McCracken, Hugh and Willie Crawford, Sheldon Guthrie, Clark 
H. and Levi Rice, Col. J. White, Capt. Thomas Coulter, George Skinner, 
Alonzo A. Skinner, James Thatcher, J. S. Spencer, Wm. Monroe, James and 
Andrew J. Taylor, David Ayers, Wm. Phillips, Richard Lee, Jesse Hight, Ezra 
Hicks, Adam Sarber, John Parrish, Joseph Nichols, Hugh Hughes, Evan R. 
Davis, Henry Moneysmith, John Ayers, James Rodgers, and several families 
named Guy. 

On and near Hog Creek, above Ki.lida, were Benjamin Clevinger, and his 
sons, Joseph, George, Jacob, Eli, James, Samuel and John; Col. John Kuhns, 
Jenkins Hughes, John Gufi'ey, James Nicholas, Mr. Rhoades and John Gander. 

Below Kalida, and on Hog Creek and the Auglaize, were James Hill, RufCis 
Carej^, Wm. H. Harris, Elias Wallen, Wm. Bowen, David Murphey, Daniel and 
Jackson Sullivan, Thomas Carder, Obed Martin, Rev. P. B. Holden, Rev. John 
Tussing, Henry Pence, Wm. and Daniel Thatcher, Samuel and Peter Myers, 
Ellison Ladd and Mr. Rhoades. The early inhabitants in the neighborhood of 
the junction of Bog Creek with the Auglaize, by reason of the eccentricities ot 
some of them, were generally known as the " Auglaize rangers." 

In Greensburg township the first white inhabitant was Henry Wing, who re- 
moved to it in 1825. At the first election held April, 1835, Wm. Bell, Abraham 
•Crow and Joshua Powell were elected Trustees ; Frederic Brower, Clerk ; 
Nutter Powell, Treasurer ; and Frederic Brower, Justice of the Peace. At this 
election eight votes were cast. F. Brower is the oldest resident now living in 
the township, having settled there in 1833. 

Liberty township was settled in 1835 — Alexander Montooth being the first 
white male inhabitant. Then came, a tew months later, C. Hofstaeter ; Nicho- 
las McConnel ; Samuel, James and John Irvin ; Mr. Kiebs and Oliver C. Pome- 
roy. In the succeeding years came L. Hull ; Jacob Sigler ; Henry Knop ; 
George Hagle ; Robert Lowry ; James Woodell ; George Bell ; 
and James McKinnis. Pete Arm, one of the head of the Tawa tribe of 
Indians, opened a small stock of goods on Section 10 — he beirg thefirst merchant. 

The township was organized in the spring of 1837 — Nicholas McConnel, 
Hugh S. Ramsay and John E. McConnel being among the qualified electors, 
and voting. A. T. Prentiss, who furnishes these notes, opened a 
school in the township, in the winter of 1839-40. The first church was the As- 
sociate Presbyterian, of Poplar Ridge, organized by Rev. Samuel Willson — 
Nicholas McConnel and James Strain being ruling elders. The first settled 
minister was Rev. Samuel McLane, who took charge of the church in 1843, and 
remained until 1848, the period of his death. The first church building, and 






^i"ll 



Putnam Gounty—Pioneem^Clarh H. jRice. 



609 



Waiters and J M. Palmer ; Leipsic, in 1852,by John W PeJkTnnLh 'rIv^" 

two seiges-and witnessed, from the pallisades of the Fort (May 5 isis f h^ 
disaster which occurred to the forces of Col. Dudley ; and three davs afterwaS! 
was with a force which crossed the river to burv the S bntS hn hL? 
so advanced in decomposition, that it was impoTsJblelo execu e the'r S^ 
The wo ves, eagles and buzzards held their hideous feasts during severa davs 
n, •^'"^- ^?^'- G^*lbreath removed to Putnam county in 1834^ ^ 

hSTdT^^oU: in ?812'^'' '^' ""'^^^^ °'^'^ ^""^^' ^-^^ ^' '^' — ^- Of 
The author of this work was formerly a citizen of Putnam county and at nnP 
time Representative in the General Assembly of Ohio; and irmay not be ?m 
F37t'^ 'f''' ^^Sinated the proposition to^educe the "alua ion ^of?L State 
Canal Lands, and secure their sales, in restricted quantities, to actual se tilers 
George Skinner made Kalida his residence in April, 1839. Durfng this Period 
he has served as Associate Jud^e, had charge of the settlpim-nV nf i^LL 
estates, and probably made surfeys of more^Lres o? ffrth^timtyThan 
any other person now living, and has discharged these several duties saUsfactori^v 
to the public and to all parties in interest. "unes satislactorily 

Dr. C. M. Godfrey, born in Adams county, Pennsylvania TmiP 17 i«i« -.o 
tablished himself in Ottawa, Putnam country in 183^3° died medicine n the 
?S-p'tf ^A • P^T'^y' ^^^ commenced the practice of his professionTn^840 
Directly after he became a resident. Dr. Godfrey took a leading part in every 
proposition niade to hasten the development of the resources of fhe^connV He 
was elected County Treasurer in 1843, and re-elected in 1844- President^ 
elector on the Cass and Butler ticket in 1848; appointed TrusTec of he 
new Lunatic Asylums in the State in 1854, and reappointed ir. ] 855 and was 
elected a member of the Ohio Senate in 18G1. Dr. Godfrey is a good specimen 
of the race of self-made men who were so largely instrumental in'giving a h^'h 
character to the business and social life of the places of his residence! ° 

CLARK n. RICE. 

The name of this honored citizen, as one of the old residents of 
Ptitnam county, has been elsewhere mentioned. Mr. Eice was born 
November 19. 1804, in Essex coimty, New York, near Lake Cham- 
plain; and in 1812, with his parents, removed to Richland county 
Ohio. He was married December 6, 1832, near Perrysville, Ashland 
county, Ohio, to Miss Catharine Mowers, who still survives him. 

Mr. Eice removed to Kalida in June, 1839, and engaged in mer- 
cantile business, in which he continued during a period exceeding 
twenty years. From here he removed to Ottawa in November, 18G8 
and established the banking house of C. H. Eice & Co., and 

88 



610 Pu tnam County — Pioneers — Clarh H. Rice. 



remained in this business until the time of his death, "which occurred 
September 27, 1870. 

It may with entire truth be stated that no man has lived in the 
Maumee Yalley who left a more honorable business record than Mr. 
Eice ; and although successful in worldly accumulations, his kindred 
and friends honor the stainless name he left, and esteem it a legacy 
of higher value than his wealth, considerable as that was. With him, 
his word and his bond were convertible terms, and both would com- 
mand unlimited credit wherever he was known. 

It will net be deemed improper orvincalled for here, inasmuch as a professed 
" history " of the part Ohio soldiers bore in tiie late civil war, has failed to ren- 
der justice to the military record, among others, made by Brig. Gen. A. V. Rice, 
son of the above, to briefly recapitulate the part the latter acted in that conflict. 
Gen. Rice was born at Perrysville, then Richland county, Ohio, in 1836-gradu- 
ated in the class of 1860, at Union College, Schenectady, Nevr York ; — was a law 
student until the war between the States happened ; when, to aid in the preser- 
vation of the Federal Union, he offered his services as a private soldier, with 
old schoolmates and acquaintances, under the three month's call of President 
Lincoln. April 29, 1831, he was elected Second Lieutenant of Company E., 
21st Reg., Ohio Infantry ; May 16, elected Captain, and served as such in the 
campaign of Western Virginia under Gen. J. D. Cox, until the muster out of 
his regiment, in August, 1861. 

During the month of September, 1861, he recruited a Co. for the 3 year's 
service, and was mustered in as Capt. (Jo. A., 57th Ohio Infantry, which Regi- 
ment he largely assisted to recruit and organize. On the 8th of February, 1862, 
he was appointed Lt. Col. by Gov. Tod, at the instance of his friends, and on 
the unanimous recommendation of the Officers of his Regiment. He accom- 
panied his command to Paducah, Ky., when it was made a part of what is 
proudly spoken of as " Sherman's Division." 

At the ever memorable battle of Shiloh, Miss., April 6th and 7th, 1862, he 
commanded his Regl., as Lieut. Col., whicti was in the thickest of the fight, 
losing one-third of its men, — he being wounded by concussion of a shell above 
him, and knocked off his horse during the engagement. 

In the advance and siege on Corinth, Miss., he took an active part in all the 
battles, and commanded his Regiment in such a manner as to elicit the encomi- 
ums of his superior officers He was constantly with and followed the fortunes 
of Sherman's Army, during the summer and fall of 1862 ; and at Chickasaw 
Bayou, Miss., in Sherman's efibrt to reduce Vicksburg, assumed command of 
his Regiment, during the different engagements there from Dec. 27, 1862, to 
.Tan. 2, 1863. On the last day, under instructions from Sherman, he com- 
manded the rear guard of the evacuating army. He was with his Regiment 
at the battle of Arkansas Post, Ark., Ian. 10th and 11th, 1863, and within 70 
sters of the enemy's works, under orders to charge the same at the time of the 
surrender. He worked on the " Canal" at Vicksburg from Jan. 21st to Feb. 
12th, 1863. In March he commanded the 1st Brig, of the 1st Div. 15th A. C. 
in the " Black Bayou Expedition " — an effort of Gen. Sherman to reach a point 
on the Yazoa river above Haine's Bluff, and thus invest Vicksburg. In this 
expedition his Brigade, by its prompt and energetic movements, relieved one 
gun-boat under Porter, and a part of the 2nd Brigade, which were surrounded 
by the enemy and in a most perilous condition. 

On the Both of April, he took his command to Snyder's Bluff, on the Yazoo 
river, and assisted in making the diversion against that point, which enabled 
Gen. Grant to capture Grand Gulf, Miss. By rapid marches his command 
circled round Vicksburg, by the way of Richmond, La., and Grand Gulf, Miss., 
and reached Baker's Creek, Miss., in time to engage in the battle of Champion 
Hills, May 16, 1863. He led his command in the engagement at Big Black 



Hancock County — Organization. 611 



river, May 17th, and pushing on to Vicksburg, -was in the first assault on that 
place after its investment on the 19th of JSIay, 1863. On the 23nd of May he led 
his command in the terrible charge of the enemy's works at Vicksburg, in 
which he was severely wounded, his right leg broken by a shot below the knee, 
and a minnie ball received in his thigh. These wounds kept him out of active 
service till January, 1804. 

For his actions in the various camjiaigns about Vicksburg, Gen. Sherman 
recommended him for promotion as Briga\lier General. In the meantime. May 
16, 186:3, he was appointed Colonel ot his Regiment. 

He was again with Sherman on his most notable campaign of 1864 against 
Atlanta, takiug part in the different battles of Sugar Valley, Resaca, Dallas, 
New Hope, Big Shanty and Little Kenesaw, from the 5th of May till the 27th 
cf June, 1864, when, at the assault on Little Kenesaw, he received three 
wounds almost simultaneously — the first resulting in amputation of the right 
leg above the knee ; the second badly shattering his left foot, and the third 
raking his head sufficieHt to bleed him freely. 

For his action at Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 18G4, he again received an 
impromptu recommendation from the general officers for promotion to Briga- 
dier General for "gallant conduct on the field, under their personal observa- 
tion ;" but the appointment was not made till May, 18G5. 

His terrible wounds at Little Kenesaw kept him out of the service till April, 
1865, when he again joined his army at Newburn, North Carolina. He passed, 
with his command, in the great review at "Washington May 24, 1865, and in 
June took them to Louisville, Ky., where he was assigned to the command of 
the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the 15th A. C, — which he took to Little 
Rock, Arkansas, June 24, 1865. The same was mustered out, August, 1865. 

Gen. Rice was honorably discharged, January 15th, 1866, having given his 
best energies, and nearly 5 years of the best part of his life, together with a part 
of his physical being, to the service of his country. He was married to the 
eldest daughter of the late Judge Metcalf, Lima, Ohio, October, 1866, and now 
lives in his old county of Putnam, at Ottawa, and succeeds his honored father 
as the head of a prosperous banking institution. 

The population of Putnam county, in 1830, was 230 ; in 1840, 5,189 ; in 1850 
7,221 ; in 1860, 13,808 ; and in 1870, 17,081. In 1852, the tax valuation of real 
and personal property amounted to $1,109,954 ; in 1862 to $3,115,499; and in 
1873, to $5,386,908. 

Notes regarding the progress and prospects of the several towns are very 
reluctantly omitted. 



HANCOCK, 

With many of the other counties heretofore named, was formed by 
the legislative enactment of April 1, 1820, and named from John 
Hancock, first President of the Revolutionary Congress. Thfi organi- 
zation of the county was made in April, 1828— the only voting place 
being Findlay, and seventy-two being the whole number of votes cast. 
A very clear view of the early history of the county is embodied in 
former pages. 

"From Urbaua the armj% on the 16th of June, 1812, moved, on its march 
towards the foot of the Maumee Rapids, as far as King's Creek, and from this 
point opened a road as far as the Sciota, where they built two block-houses, 
which they called Fort McArthur, in honor of the officer whose regiment had 
opened the road. To this Fort the whole army came on the 19th, and on the 
21st Colonel Finley was ordered to open the road as far as Bianchard's fork, 
whither the army, excepting a guard left at Fort McArthur, again followed on 



612 Hancock County — Pioneers^ &g. 



the 22nd. Here, amid rain and mud, another block house was erected, which 
was called Fort Necessity. From this point the army soon after moved to 
Blanchard's fork, where Colonel Finley had built a block-house, which was 
called in honor of that officer." — American State Papers. 

Squire Carlin says of the condition of the old fort, in 1836 : " The pickets 
next the river were in a good condition of preservation ; but travellers who 
had camped in the fort had chopped off the tops of many of those enclosing 
the other three sides, for firewood. Within the enclosure was a block-house 
yet standing, and two small houses which had probably been used for barracks. 
The pickets inclosed about one acre of ground." 

Regarding the siege of the fort, during the war, the reader is referred to the 
letter of Mnjor Oliver, pp. 159-100. 

Joseph Gordon was the first mail-carrier — concluding his twenty year's ser- 
vice about 1840. In an editorial notice of Mr. Gordon, published in the 
Findlay Courier, January 23, 1847, Wm. Mungen said : 

"Few, indeed, have constitutions sufficiently strong to endure such labor, for 
such a length of tiuje. To think of carrying a weekly mail, ninety miles 
through a wilderness, under the scorching rays of a summer's sun — through the 
chilling winds and rains of winter — and that, too, for a mere pittance, is 
enough to make a person shudder. It is to such men as Mr. G., to our hardy 
pioneers, who were ready to encounter all kinds of toil and privation, that 
Ohio owes her present state of prosperity and advancement. For such men we 
cannot but cherish sentiments of respect : 

'*^" Joseph Gordon was born in Allegheny county, Peniasylvania, on the 29th 
day of January, A. D. 1784. In the year 1801, when but 17 years old, he com- 
menced carrying the mail, on horseback, from Russellsville, Kentucky, via 
Bowling Green, to Glasgow, a distance of eighty-five miles, once in two weeks, 
for which he received twelve dollars per month. In 1802 he took a contract 
to carry the mail from Shelbyville, Ky., to Nashville, Tennessee. In conse- 
quence of the route being changed, he carried this mail only two months. 
From that time till October, 1804, he carried it from Shelbyville to Russells- 
ville, Ky. In October, 1804, he commenced carrying the mail, on horseback, 
from Wheeling, Virginia, to George Beymer's in this State, semi- weekly, a dis- 
tance of fifty miles, with a led horse and a heavy mail on each. In 1805 and 
1806, until the stages commenced running, he carried it from Wheeling, Va., 
through St. Clairsville, ZanesviUe, and New Lancaster, to Chilicothe. In 
Febrmiry, 1823, he commenced carrying the mail from Bellefontaine, Logan 
countv, to Perrysburg, Wood county, a distance of eighty-one miles throvgh a 
wilderness, there being but one family residing in Hardin county, and but one 
Post Office on the route, and thut at ibis place. Now there are eleven Post 
Offices on the route, which produce about three thousand two hundred dollars 
per annum. Mr. Gordon was the only contractor on this route from February 
7th, 1823, to December 31st, 1839. Since 1839 he has carried the mail semi- 
weekly from Bellefontaine to this place, a distance of fifty-five miles." 

Mr. Mungen also contributes the following : 

" For a long time what goods were purchased and brought here came via the 
Maumee, Auglaize and Blanchard, to Findlay, from Perrysburg, the head 
of navigation on the Maumee. The furs and such articles of sale and com- 
merce as the new country furnished went there by the same route. The ves- 
sels used in the transportation of these articles weve 2}irogues, or the bodies of 
large trees hollowed out by the axe and by fire. 

" Sometime about 1834, Michael Price, William Taylor, John McKinnis, his 
father, Robert McKinnis, and one or two others not now remembered, who had 
been on a trading trip to Perrysburg, were returning with goods, &c., and hav- 
ing got up into Blanchard a few miles above its mouth, and landed, discovered 
a large bear running past them. They gave chase, overtook or intercepted it, 
attacked and killed it with the poles they used to propel their pirogues, after a 



Hancock County— Pioneer s^ &g. 613 



serious and dangerous combat. The}' bad no s:un iu the fight, their guns being 
in the boats when bruno made his appearance." 

The same gentleman furnishes the following list of early settlers : 

"In 1818, came Wilson Vance; and in 1823, John P. Hambleton and Kohwt Mc- 
Kinnis and his sons Charles, Phillip, James and John, and son-in-law, Jacob 
Poe ; and on Blanchard, below Findlay, in 1827, were John Fishel, and his 
sons, Michael and John, and son-in-law, John Magee ; and prior to 1830, Geo. 
Shaw, Wm. Downing, John, Richard and Lewis Duke; from 1830 to 1835, 
Wm. and John Moffit, Wm. Birckhead, Thomas lIobl)s, Daniel Cusack, Isaac 
Corner, John Povenmire, John Byall, James Jones, John Fletcher, John Lytic 
and George Chase ; from 1835 to 1840, James Jones, Absolom Hall, John Price, 
Thos. Cook, Solomon Lee, Rich'd and Wm. Watson, Johnson and Kobt. Bonham, 
Wm. Fountain, Robert L., Isaac and John Stroter, Rev. Geo. Van Eman. Wm. 
Ebright, Van Burson, Thos. Cook, Moses Predmore, Nathan Frankes, Thomas 
and John Jenes, John Smeltzer, B. McClish, Enos Haddox and A. C. Worden. 

"At Findlay and neighborhood, from 1825 to 1830, were William Taylor, 
James B. Thomas, David Egbert, Squire Carliu, Ebenezer Wilson and Ab'm. 
Huif ; and, during the period from 1830 to 1835, there appeared Wra. Burns, 
Chas. Thomas, Wm. Gillespie, Wm. Marvin, Aldlen Wisely, Leonard Baumgart- 
ner, Jacob Baker, John Moore, John Graham, Wm. Roller, Cornelius Poulson, 
John Shoemaker, Moses McAneliy, John Huff, Aaron Swihart, George Hollen- 
bach. Wm. S. Birkhead, John Bergman, Charles Thomas, John Burman, John 
Franks, Valentine Karns, Peter Wyant, Johii Edington — and, (dates being 
mostly uncertain,) Josiah Elder, George Fahl, Godfrey Wolford, Jacob Shaffer, 
John Lafferty, John Rose, Nathaniel Miller, .T acob Shoemaker, Michael Misa- 
more, Peter and Joseph George, (1837,) Elisha Brown, Joseph Twining, Chas. 
Van Home, Andrew Morehart, Uriah Egbert, Daniel Alspach, Stephen Lee. 
John Beach, Aquilla Gilbert, (1828,) Mordecai Hammond. John and Henry Or- 
wick, Henry Treace, Robert Russel. John Vanatta, John D. and Henry Bishop, 
Lower Walters, John Scothorn, Elijah Woodruff, Joshua Hartman, Robert 
Crawford, A Keel, G. W. McClelland,. Wm. Cameron, Wm. W. Hughes, 
Henry Oman, Nathaniel Stout, Simon Crist, Isaac Smith and Moses Elza. 
And again, between 1830 and 1835, came Samuel Huntington, John Kemphir, 
John Stump and John Fenstermaker ; and, between the years 1835 and 1840, 
the following named persons became residents : Robert Sherrard, James, John 
and Amos Cooper ; James Barr, Alfred and Isaac N. Davis ; John and Joseph 
Radabaugh ; Robert Bamhill, Emanuel Longbrake, Adam Kramer, John Berg- 
man, John Schoonover, Henry Kamps, Charles Henderson, Archibald Wilson, 
H. B. Thomas, Silas Leonard, Christopher and James Wiseman, Peter Glothart, 
Mordecai Haddox, Elihu Dennison, Frederick Dudduit, Abraham W. Beales, 
Abraham Schoonover, Joshua Smith, Geo. Van Eman, Joseph Johnson, Daniel 
Fairchild, Joseph Lash, Grafton Baker, John P. Ebersole, Wm. Fox, Jacob 
Hissons:, Samuel Heller, Thomas Kelley, Caleb Roller, Francis Renfern, Sr., 
Paul Matthias, Thomas Watkins, James McConnel, and Samuel ^lorehead. 
And also at an early date came C. W. O'Neal, John Morrison, James 31. 
and Charles Cofflnberry. M. C. Whitely, Dr. Bass Rawson. John Mungen, Abel F. 
Parker, Parlee Carlin, Robert Bovafd, John Reed, Jacob Ewing, John Fair- 
child, Phineas Mapes, George Downing. Christian Barnes, (and his sous, John, 
Abney, Jacob, Elijah and Gamaliel,) Jacob Rosenberg, Benj. Huber, Dr. Jacob 
Carr, Judge M. C. Whitely, Jacob Crumley and others." 

Drake Taylor, with part of his family, (including his two sons, Stephen and 
Henry D.,) removed to the farm 2 miles below Gilead, (now Grand Rapids,) 
in November. 1828. The families then at the head of the Kapids were Edward 
and Robert Howard and William Pratt ; and between these and Mr. Taylor's 
place were Joseph Keith and a Mr. Laughrey. On the north side, at Provi- 
dence, resided Peter Manor, the only inhabitant on that side between Water- 
ville and Prairie du Masque, where Samuel Vance, Mr. Scribner, (father of 
Edward Scribner, new of Napoleon,) and Mr. Bucklin, resided. There was a 



614 Hancock County — Pioneers^ c&c. 



settler opposite Damascus, on the south side, named Belong, and below him, 
on the same side, were Jacob Brown and Amos Pratt, who lived about two 
miles above Grand Rapids. Returning to the north side, and above Mr. Patrick, 
resided the families of Elijah Gunn, senior and junior; and above them, at the 
place now called Florida, lived Jesse Bowen and Mr. Hunter. Opposite, at 
Snaketown, were the families of Messrs. Mayhew and Hunter. 

From the place above mentioned, Mr. Taylor and part of his family removed 
to the twelve mile reservation above Waterville, (being the first white settlers 
on that reservation.) Henry D. Taylor is now a resident of Hancock county. 

Wilson Vance, before mentioned, may be regarded as one of the fathers of 
Findlay. He first came to the place as representative, under a power of attor- 
ney, of the one-fifth interest of his brother, Joseph Vance, subsequently Gover- 
nor of Ohio. The family of Wilson Vance made the seventh household of 
Hancock county. As an honest man, and prominent leader in all good works, his 
memory is held in high esteem by the old citizens of Findlay and of North 
Western Ohio. 

John Eckles, with his wife and three sons, settled in Cass township, Han- 
cock county, — removing from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania — landing 
at the place above named on the 17th of April, 1836." Mr. Eckles and his three 
sons, namely : Charles J., James M., and Cyrus L., are yet living — all at Find- 
lay, except James M., who is a resident of Fort Wayne. 

Robert Hurd, who came to the county in 1839 or 1840, laid out the town of 
Arlington, in 1841. 

Dr. Osterlin, representative in 1871-73 in the Ohio House of Representatives, 
settled in Findhiy in 1834, and John Adams about the same time. 

The first white settler in the county of Hancock was a single man by the 
name of Tharp, who was at Findlay during the war, and remained until after 
its close, with several of the garrison, and engaged in the Indian trade. A 
family whose head was Benjamin Cux, settled in 1818. 

The first term of the Court of Common Pleas was held November, 1829 — 
Ebenezer Lane, President, and Abraham Huff, Robert McKinnis and Ebene- 
zer Wilson, Associate Judges, Only one case appears upon the docket. 

The record of the first session of the Commissioners bears date March 2, 
1829. At this time John Long, Charles McKinnis and John P. Hambleton 
appear to have been the acting Commissioners, and the following persons 
filling other county offices : Assessor — Don Alonzo Hamblin, (whose bill for the 
assessment of the county for 1829 amounted to nineteen dollars and seventy- 
five cents ;) Auditor — William Hacknej'^ ; Surveyor — William Taylor. 

At the session of June 5, 1831, the Commissioners sold to tiie Reverend Peter 
Monfort Lots Nos. 105 and 148 in the village of Findlay for forty-three dollars 
and twenty-five cents. The taxable valuation of these lots for 1872 amount, 
with improvements, to $1658. 

Edson Goit removed to Findlay and opened a law office in August, 1832. 
He was the first lawyer who settled in that place. The second was John H. 
Morrison, who came to Findlay about the year 1834, having removed from 
Bucyrus, where he had served as Prosecuting Attorney and Treasurer of Craw- 
ford county. The third was Chas. W. O'Neal, who is yet in practice, and 
about the fourth Attorney was the late Jude Hall. 

Edwin F. Jones, now of Chillicothe, Illinois, communicated to the Findlay 
Jeffersom'an, in 1872, some reminiscences of Hancock county, from which the 
following is extracted : 

Mr. Jones visited the county in May, 1827 — was a guest at the house of Wm 
Hackney, and afterwards of John P. Hambleton. In company with Mr. and 
Mrs. Hambleton they made a visit to " the fort," 1^ miles below — crossing Lye 
and Eagle Creeks on trees and tops fallen from either side. He was introduced 
to Wilsen Vance, " the head centre, and a gentleman in deed and truth, and 
chief agent of the town proprietors." In the town Mr. Jones also met John C, 
Wickham, (school teacher,) Joseph and Wm. De Witt and Squife Carlin. 



Hancock County — Resonrces^ &g. 615 



" Sometime in 1828, Wm. Taylor marie his appearance there, and gave Mr. 
Riley the job of buiidino; him a house, 16 or 18 by;^2 feet, Mr. Riley furnishing 
the materials and finishing it ofl" in different compartments for about $;^30. 
Sometime after, Mr. Taylor moved on, with his amiable wife, Margaret. Mrs. 
Taylor was a native of Bedford county, Pa. They were a great accession to 
Findlay, and would have been an hwnor to Washingion City. Mr. Taylor 
brought on about $800 worth of dry goorls and groceries, which he put un in 
one end of his house. In the fall ot 183S, Mr. Joshua Powell and wife "and 
sons, Eli and Nutter, and one daughter, settled on a donation lot, and built a 
hewed log house back in the brush. They were an honest and industrious 
family. Sometime after Mr. Powell bought land up the River and left his 
house. In October of that year, we had a great accession to Findlay in the ar- 
rival among us of Dr. Bass Rawsor, one of God's noblemen, and his kind lady 
and little daughter Hattie. They took up their abode in Mr. Powell's house. 

" In 1829 or 1830, we were favored with another accession of Robert L. 
Strother, with his mother and sister, Malinda Strother, afterwards wife of 
Joseph C. Shannon." 

At an early day the facilities for intercommunication were of a limited char- 
acter. There was but one really passable road — leading from Bellefontaine 
to Perrysburg, perhaps better known as " Hull's trace," having been the route 
he pursued in his march to Detroit. By-paths, blazed through the woods, were 
about the only things to be relied upon. Of course there was little home mar- 
ket for any thing. There was scarcely ever a surplus raised, and those who 
had wheat to sell would haul it to Maumee or Sandusky City and there sell it 
for from 40 to 60 cents per bushel ; hogs were driven to Detroit and sold 
there. 

In 1839 the railway fever broke out and took shape in the form of an appro- 
priation of $100,000 by the County to the Bellefontaine & Perrysburg railway 
company, but the enterprise vanished into air — and but few people arc aware 
that such an entei prise was ever contemplated. 

The first real impetus its growth received was by the building of the branch 
road between Findlay and Carey, in 1850-51. By means of it Findlay became 
a desirable market and reached out for trade in every direction. Subsequentl}' 
the Lake Erie & Louisville road was completed from Fremont to Findlay, giv- 
ing competition in freights, and materially benefitting the town. 

The Fremont and Indiana railroad was put in running order from Fremont 
to Findlay in 1861, but owing to the embarrassments of the company, the road 
was not completed further until 1872. 

This road was sold in 1861, and a new company organized under the name 
of the Fremont, Lima and Union railroad company. In 1865 the Fremont, 
Linia and Union and the Lake Erie and Pacific railroad companies were con- 
solidated under the name of the Lake Erie and Louisville R. R. company. 

The census returns for the several decades from 1830 to 1870, inclusive, exhi- 
bit the following results : 

Population of Hancock county in 18S0, 813 ; in 1840, 9,986 ; in 1850, 16,751 ; 
in 1860, 33,886 ; in 1870, 23,847. 

The original proprietors of the land upon which Findlay was built, were 
Elnathan Cory, of Clark countv, Joseph Vance, (subsequently Governor of 
Ohio,) of Champaign county, Maj. Wm. Oliver, of Cincinnati, and Wm. Neil 
and John Mcllvaine of Franklin county ; but the three last named disposed of 
their interest, and on the 26th of September, 1829, the town was platted and 
recorded by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory. 

In 1826 the post-oflice paid to Wilson Vance, postmaster, a commission for 
his services, amounting to $3,18, or 70^ cents per ciuarter. The oflice now 
pays the postmaster a commission of nearly $3,000 per annum. 

•The population of the town in 1850 amounted to 1,256 ; in 1860, to 2,467 ; in 
1870, to 3,315. 

The assessed valuation of real and personal property in 18*1, amounted to 
$1,035,539. 



616 Lucas County—Its History Besumed. 



It would have been gratifying could more space have been devoted 
to the pioneer men and times, and present resources of Hancock 
county; but historical matter of much value, and not hitherto pub- 
lished, regarding its earlier history, are embraced in preceding pages. 



LUCAS COUNTY. 

Resuming and continuing now, from the interruption explained 
on page 578, the concluding sheets of this volume will be devoted 
chiefly to Lucas county — commencing with the reliable contribu- 
tion of Sanford L. Collins, whose oflicial and other trusts were 
ever executed with fidelity to public and personal interests, as all 
the old citizens of Lucas county will gladly bear witness. 

H. S. Knapp, Esq. — My Dear Sir : As per request, I send recollections of 
the early settlement of Toledo. My residence there was from December, 1831, 
to February. 18>i3, in the employ of Lewis Godard, Esq., of Detroit, whose 
interest, under his instructions, both in merchandise and real estate, I closed 
out, in February, 1833, then returned to Detroit. During this time, however, I 
had, in connection with Mr. Godard, purchased lands at Ten Mile Creek, after- 
ward Tremainville, to which place I came from Detroit in July following, 
erected a store, went to New York for goods, returned in October, and com- 
menced improvements in land clearing, selling goods, &c., at which place I 
have since resided. 

The resident heads of families, January 1, 1832, embraced within 
the limits of what was then Port Lawrence township, comprising 
what is now the city, Washington township, Manhattan, Oregon, 
and a part of Adams township, were as follows : In the city limits, north side 
ot the river. Major B. F. Stickney, William Wilson, Wm. Riley, (brother of 
Capt. James Riley, tke old sea navigator,) Hiram Bartlett, Dr. J. V. D. 
Sutphen, Michael T. Whitney, James M. Whitney, Harman Crane, (father of 
C. A. Crane, Esq.,) Noah A. Whitney, Sen., and Peter Bertholf. 

In what is now Washington township, were Major Coleman I. Reeler, 
Deacon Samuel J. Keeler, (father of Salmon Keelcr, Esq..) Charles G. Keeler, 
Noah A. Whitney, Jr., Milton D. Whitney, Eli Hubbard, Cyrus Fisher, John 
Phillips, P. J. Phillips, John and Joseph Roop, Capt. A. Evans, W. R. Merritt, 
Charles Evans, Peter, David and Wm. Lewis, Caleb Horton, Samuel Horton, 
widow Holmes, Wm. Sibley, Andrew Jacobs, Christian Roop, Philip and 
Abel Mattoon, Dr. Wordon, Wm. Wilkinson, Moody Mills, John Leyliourn, 
Peter Corno and Alexander Bernard. 

In what was afterwards Manhattan, were Tibbies Baldwin, Francis Loveway, 
Joseph Trombley, N. Guoir, and Peter, Robert, Alexander and James Navarre. 

In Oregon were Joseph Prentice, (father of Frederick Prentice, Esq.,) Ebene- 
zer Ward, Robert Gardner, Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Crane. 

In what is now Adams, were Ezra Goodsell and Oiiver P. Stevens. 

The winter of 1831-32 was employed by Capt. Hiram Brown and Capt. John 
and Tibbies Baldwin in establishing a fishery on a large scale — using a seine 
near the place now covered by the T, T. and Eastern Railway, that swept the 
river from shore to shore. 

The commencement of Toledo, starting out with tAvo names. Port Lawrence 
and Vistula, may, I think, fairly be dated January 1, 1832, at which time Capt. 
Samuel Allen and Otis Hathaway came on from Lockport, N. Y., to commence 
improvements in accordance with a contract made with Major Stickney in 
September or October previous. Mr. Lewis Godard, of Detroit, above men- 
tioned, and also a former Lockport man, (and the father of A. Godard, Esq., of 



Lucas County — Early History of Toledo. 61' 



your city,) came down and made a farther contract with Major Stickney for 
some three acres of ground, to be selected after the same should have been 
platted, under which agreement Mr. Godard was to send here a stock of goods, 
which goods were sent in the month of December, 1831, under my charge, I 
being then in his (Mr. Godard's) employ, and were put up in an old deserted 
block-house, which Philo Bennett, also' from Lockport, had put in condition 
for their reception, having come down from Detroit for that purpose, and who 
became a settler here, purchasing the tract on the opposite side of the river, 
next below the Yondota plat. 

This block-house into which the goods were placed, was built by William 
Wilson, Esq., (afterwards Judge Wilson.) at the time that the town of Port 
Lawrence was first originated by the Cincinnati Company, in 1816— and had 
been so long deserted that it was perfectly surrounded with an undergrowth of 
timber of considerable size. 

Why I say that the commencement of Toledo ma}- fairly be dated on the 1st 
of January, 1832, is, that the contractors, with Major Stickney, were then on 
the ground to commence the pertormance of their contract. Mr. Godard, on 
his part, had sent the stock of goods, which were then o])encd and for sale. 
These demonstrations on the part of Messrs Allen, Hathaway & Godard, in the 
w'ay of town building, as well as their presence, were made the occasion of a 
grand ball to be holden in the old log warehouse then standing at the mouth 
of Swan Creek, occupying a portion of ground now iu use by the Messrs Koff, 
for their hardware store. This building, together with the old blockhouse, 
now occupied for the store, were about all that existed of the improvements of 
the Cincinnati Company in their attempt to build up a town here in 1816. 

The old log warehouse, at this time, notwithstandmg its antiquity, was really 
a building of great convenience. While a portion served for what was then 
considered a comfortable dwelling, occupied by Capt. John Baldwin, the upper 
part afforded the room for the grand ball upon the occasion before referred to, 
and which was participated in by the citizens generally (old as well as young) 
of old Port Lawrence township, as well as with fair representations from 
Maumee, Perrysburg, Bay Settlement and Monroe ; and as, upon all occasions 
of this kind in the then new settlement of the country, the best of feeling was 
manifested, especially among the residents of old Port Lawrence, who seemed 
to think that a new order of things was about to be inaugurated ; that improve- 
ments they had so long and so anxiously waited for were now about to be com- 
menced. 

The Vistula part of the city was then laid off and platted, and the clearing of 
the plat of brush and timber commenced; also, the putting in of a long line of 
docking in front qf the property at the foot of Lagrange street, extending down 
toward Elm street some 40 rods or thereabouts. This line of docking was built 
upon the ice, and notwithstanding its great weight, it being some nine feet 
high, it did not break through until the ice began to give way in the spring ; 
and of course, while kept up by the ice, presented a very formidable appear- 
ance; so much so, that it attracted the attention of our enterprizing neiglibors 
of Perrysburg, who came down upon the ice witli a large party to pay their 
respects to the new proprietors and witness the new mode ot building docks 
without piling. After examining carefully, they said it looked veiy well, but 
thought it would disappear with the ice iu the spring, and perhaps the same 
might be the case with many of the new inhabitants in the coming months of 
July and August, witli fevers and agues, Avhich they most assuredly would have. 

The spring came, and contrary to the predictions of our Perrysburg neigh- 
bors, the dock did not disappear, but became greatly displaced ; and so with 
the new settlers, they did not disappear, but had any amount of shaking. 

After the opening of navigation that year, an attempt was made on the part 
of the prcprietors, in connection with Mr. Godard, to make an arranjemeut 
with some one of the boats then running in the regular line from Butfalo to 
Detroit, to come in here on her up trip, thereby having one boat a week. \\\ 



618 Lucas County — Early History of Toledo. 



this, however, they did not succeed, but made an arrangement with the steamer 
"Pioneer" to run between here and Sandusky, meeting the regular boats at 
Sandusky, and bringing passengers and immigrants destined fer the Maumee Val- 
ley and Southern Michigan, direct to Vistula. To aid in this matter. Two 
Stickney was sent as the agent of the proprietors to Buffalo, to change the tide 
of immigration or immigrant travel, so tar as it was possible, to this route, by 
giving tiie necessary assurance that a boat would be in readiness at Sandusky 
to take them to Vistula. Under this arrangement, the steamer " Pioneer " per- 
formed a few trips, and then abandoned it, as not paying. During this tims, 
however, the fine schooner " Eagle," with its gallant Captain, David Wilkinson, 
made her regular trips from Perrysburg to Buffalo. Also the regular weekly 
trips of the steamer " General Gratiot," Captain Arthur Edwards, from Detroit 
to Maumee, touching at Vistula, and affording a communication wita Buffalo 
by way of Detroit. 

During that spring and summer, (1833) there came, as settlers, Capt. Samuel 
Allen and family, Otis Hathaway, (did not bring his family,) Munson H. Daniels, 
Daniel Washburn, C. G. Shaw and family, Oliver Stevens and family, James 
Maddox, Stephen B. Comstock, Philander Wales, Dr. Fassett, (who, with 
Stevens, Wales and Maddocks, and other families, settled on the opposite side of 
the river,) and Richard Greenwood, I think, came in that year. Oliver Spaul- 
ding and Daniel O, Comstock, came in the fall. 

Among the improvements that were made that year, and the most important 
in the way of building, was the erection of a store under instructions from Mr. 
Godard, on the S. E. corner of Summit and Lagrange streets, being on tiie 
property embraced in the purchase by him of Major Stickney, before referred to, 
which purchase covered the whole front on Summit from Lagrange to Elm 
streets, running to the river, covering the line of docking mentioned. On 
the front, on the north-westerly side of Summit, from Lagi-ange to Elnx, except 
two lots, the consideration was the payment of .f 300, and the sending down 
of the stock of goods, put up in the old block-house heretofore mentioned; 
during the summer, and while the store was being erected, Mr. Godard formed 
a co-partnership with Elkanah Briggs, from the vicinity of Albany, N. Y., Mr. 
Briggs purchasing the undivided one-half of that portion of the real estate 
already referred to, above Cedar street, including the store, which was after- 
wards completed and supplied with goods by the purchases of Mr. Godard, and 
sent here for Briggs & Godard. In October, Mr. Briggs came here with his 
family, occupying lor a dwelling the upper part of the store, which had been 
fitted up for that purpose. On the arrival of the goods for Briggs & Godard, 
the remaining stock in the old block house was sold to Capt. John Baldwin, 
who fitted up a small unoccupied building, into which they were put, together 
with purchases from other sources, making a very respectable store. (This 
l)uilding stood on Summit street, between Perry and Monroe, and was known 
in after years as the old Saux' grocery ;) so that in the fall of 1832 both the 
upper and lower town, (the old town of Port Lawrence having been revived 
under the agency of Stephen B. Comstock) could each boast of a store of some 
credit, especially that of Briggs & Godard, both in its building as well as in its 
stock. Mr. Godard's interest in the store nnd real estate of Briggs & Godard, 
was sold to Briggs in January, 1833, he (Briggs) selling to Edward Bissell, I 
think, in the fall of 1833; this store was then occupied by Flagg & Bissell, then 
by M. L. Collins & Co., then by Clark & Bennett, then by Dr. Jacob Clark, then 
by Ketcham & Snell, and finally burned while being occupied by Elijah S. 
lianks, in 1845 or 1846. 

During the year 1832, notwithstanding the importance of the two rival towns, 
(Vistula and Port Lawrence,) they were yet without any mail facilities, their 
post-office nearly three miles distant, at Ten Mile Crock, on the line of the old 
United States Turnpike, (so called.) Cyrus Fisher, Esq., P. M., resided in a 
block-house of some considerable size, kept as a tavern and store, standing on 
the ground now occupied by Mr. Sharer's old tavern house, the mail being car- 



Lucas County — Uarly History of Toledo. 619 



ried tlirough for the supply of the offices along the line, from Fremont to 
Detroit, on horseback, some three times a week, I think. The name of this 
post-office was the same as that of the township, Port Lawrence. Mr. Fisher, 
the then P. M.. leaving the neighborhood, Mr. Calvin Tremain, a very wortliy 
man from Vermont, settling there with a small store of goods, was appointed P. 
M. in the place of Mr. Fisher. 

Mr. John P. Converse, the Mail Contractor, on the route from Fremont to 
Detroit, changed the horseback mail to a daily line of coaches. This was at 
that time a very great convenience, affording an opportunity by public conve}'- 
ance of reaching Detroit, or East to Buffalo, during the winter'months. 

About this time the question of petitionnig tor a post office was talked about, 
and of course each locality wanted not only the office on account of the name, 
but the P. M. also. The lower town wanted the name of Vistula, and the 
upper. Port Lawrence. A meeting of the citizens of both towns was called, 
and a strong effort made to agree upon some one tor P. M., also, the name of 
the office, and to at once petition for its establishment. 

Among the reasons for prompt action in this matter, aside from the long dis- 
tance we were compelled to travel tor mail accommodations, were, that some- 
times when one was commissioned to bring in the mail for all the neighbor- 
hood, and happening not to be supplied with the ready money necessary, 
(which unfortunate circumstance would sometimes occur, in spite of us,) the 
P. M., although a worthy man, but not sufficiently appreciating the efforts that 
were being made in building up, not only one, but two towns, would decline 
parting with the mail until the money was forthcoming, so that, in some instan- 
ces, the second journey would have to be performed for the same mail. 

Some time during the winter of 1832-3, (I have forgotten the precise date,) a 
post-office was established, taking the name of the Ten Mile Creek office, ("Port 
Lawrence,) and giving to that ©ffice the name of Tremainville, simply adding 
the ville to the name of its then P. M., (Tremain.) Stephen B. Coms^ock had 
the appointment of P. M. at the Port Lawrence office. The post-office depart- 
ment also established a new mail route from Tremainville to Toledo, or Port 
Lawrence. Major B. F. Stickney had the contract for carrying the mail upon 
this route, supplying the Port Lawrence office with its mail from the Tremain- 
ville office three times a week for the net proceeds of the Port Lawrence office, 
provided the same did not exceed $15 per quarter. Under this arrangement 
Tremainville became the distributing office for Port Lawrence and Vistula, 
instead of their delivery office as theretofore. 

This state of things, however, did not last always. During the fall and 
winter of 1834-5, the Manhattanites, a most enterprizing people, opened up a 
new road in the direction of Monroe, intersecting the old Turnpike near the 
State line, while Vistula and Port Lawrence, anxious to improve their mail 
facilities, had opened a road along the bank of the river to Fort Miami, thereby 
making a very passable road from the old Turnpike at Fori Miami, by way of 
Port Lawrence, Vistula and Manhattan, intersecting the old Turnpike at the 
State line, as before stated. 

The mail upon the old Turnpike route was then changed to this new route, 
and the writer, who was then P. M. at Tremainville, was advi-sed of that change 
March 3, 1835, and also that thereafter the post-ofiice at Tremainville would be 
supplied with its mail from the Port Lawrence office, and instructed to give to 
Major Stickney for such mail service the same compensation allowed in the 
supplving of the Port Lawrence office, to wit : the net proceeds of the Tremain- 
ville office, provided the same did not exceed the sum of fifteen dollars per 
quarter ! 

The ofiice was continued until the change in the rates of postage, and then 
abandoned. 

Yours, as of old, 

Sanfobd L. Collins. 



620 Toledo- -Something of its Past and Present. 



Sandford L. Collins, Esq., who contributes the foregoing valuable historical 
letter, had two brothers, early residents ot Toledo : John W. Collins, now 
living near Tremainville, and the late Morgan L. Collins, one of the oldest, 
most active and useful business men of Toledo, whose spotless name will long 
bs remembered, and who died in the spring of 1865, The two last mentioned 
brothers came to the Valley in 1834. Few names are more prominent in the 
early history of the Lower Valley, or command higher respect, than those of 
the Messrs. Collins. 



TOLEDO— SOMETHING OF ITS PAST AND PEESENT. 

The spirited frontispiece, by 0. J. Hopkins, of the landing of the 
old Continental First Regiment of Infantry, at Fort Industry (now 
Toledo), will attract the attention of the reader. Its gallant com- 
mander, Colonel Thomas Hunt, received his " baptism of fire" in the 
first battle of the Eevolution, and continued in active service 
throughout that conflict. The First Continental was a favorite reg- 
iment with Washington and the country. On its route from Detroit 
to St. Louis, in June, 1803, a night was passed in the vicinity of the 
fort, under tents. This old Fort stood near the edge of the bluif, about 
80 feet above the river. Richard Mott's block occupies, probably, the 
central portion of the old post, erected under the orders of Gen. 
AVayne, in 1794, and the place wiiere the treaty between the Commis- 
sioners of the United States and several tribes of Indians was made, 
July 4, 1805 — [ante, p. 237J. Some, whose knowledge of the place 
is limited to a period of thirty or forty years, may be disposed to 
question the fidelity of certain points in the representation conveyed 
by the engraving; but those persons will remember that even with- 
in their time, every prominent landmark in existence when they 
had their first view of its physical features, has also forever disap- 
peared. 

The early history of Tobdo has been partly given in preceding 
pages. The city is already the recognized commercial capital, not 
only of the Maumee Valley, but of large, highly productive and 
populous districts in Ohio and adjacent and distant States ; and yet 
it may safely be assumed that the 'village' has scarcely entered upon 
the period of its commercial growth. 

Its infant struggle for commercial position, is very fully and sat- 
isfactorily given in the reminiscences of Major B. F. Stickney, and 
Messrs. Scott, Prentice, Mott, Daniels, and others ; but the original 
design of giving full statistics of its present and prospective com- 
merce, railways, manufactures, banks, etc., has been defeated by rea- 
son that it would extend this work beyond all reasonable limits. A 
general and imperfect view, therefore, of the present business of 
Toledo, is all that can be given. 

Its progress may, in some degree, be measured by the valuations, 
at different periods, for taxation purposes, as given below : 



Toledo — Sometliing of its Past and Present. 621 



Value of real and personal property in 1837 % 249.693 00 

In 1840, valuation of real property (exclusive of chattels) 325,831 GO 

In 1850, valuation of real and personal property 895,402 00 

In 1872, valuation of real and personal property 16.518,850 00 

And in 1873, the Board of Equalization have established the 

value atabout 18,000,000 CO 

_ In 1836, Sanford L. Collins, Esq., then Treasurer of Lucas, the 
limits of which embraced nearly the present territory of Fulton coun- 
ty, paid into the State Treasury, on his annual settlement with the 
State, $940 05 8, (nine hundred and forty dollars five cents and 
eight mills.) as the proportion due from Lucas county to ihe State. 
In 1872-73. Mr. Kountz, Treasurer of the county thus shorn of 
a large portion of its territory, paid the State SGl,7o7 34. (sixty-one 
thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven dollars and thirty-four 
cents, as the proportioti due from the county to the State. 

There are many persons in Toledo to-day who are in pos.session of 
more wealth than the entire valuation of the city in 1837 ; and there 
are several whose resources exceed the whole taxable wealth of 1850. 
Yet, it must be stated that the mass of the popuhition of tlie city 
are real estate owners, and that society presents few extremes of 
overshadowing Avealth and petiury. A large per cent, of laboring 
men in Toledo, are owners of the property on which they reside. 
Its advance in population is indicated by the census returns which follow : 

In 1840 1,224 

In 1850 3,829 

In 1860 13,768 

In 1870 31,584 

Hon. Isaac R. Sherwood, late Secretary of State, in his annual re- 
port made to the Governor of Ohio, in 1871, makes an analysis of 
the per cent, of increase in population, during the decennial period 
between I860 and 1870, of the five principal cities of Ohio, resulting 
as follows: Toledo, 136 per cent.; Cleveland, 112; Columbus, 66; 
Dayton, 51 ; Cincinnati, 35. 

Mayor Jones, the able chief magistrate, who permits nothing of 
importance to the interests of Toledo to escape his attention, thus 
refers, in his annual message to the City Council of April, 1872, to 
the commercial Importance of the city : 

'* The imports of the city during the year 1871, amounted to 
$201,826,917; the exports to 213,547,610, making a total value of 
$415,375,527, an excess over the year previous of $34,390,395, not- 
withstanding that values have been lower than for many years pre- 
vious. 

"The receipts of grain during the year amounts to 35,000,000 
bushels, an increase of 12,000,000 over the receipts of any previous 
year. 

" The grain traflRc of this city is exceeded by no other receiving 
or shipping port in the United States (from first hands), except 
Chicago. While most of the wheat from that and other lake cities, 
is of the kind denominated Spring, ours is entirely Winter Wheat." 



622 Toledo — Something of its Past and Present. 



Mr. Wales, Secretary of tlie Board of Trade, furnishes, in his last 
report, the following table of imports and exports, from 1858 to 
1872, inclusive: 

Imports. Exports. 

1858 $ 31,700,085 00 % 35,460,031 00 

1860 46,727,754 00 52,243,627 00 

1864 81,180,366 00 95,905,758 00 

1865 158,967,000 00 177,547,671 00 

1866 161,652,597 00 181,329,496 00 

1807 167,786,626 00 185,145,096 00 

1868 179,452,650 00 197,814,241 00 

1869 182,360,700 00 198,723,432 00 

1871 201,826,917 00 213,547,610 00 

1873 204,700,000 00 218,672,000 00 

The depth of water at the mouth of the harbor has been such as 
to exclude from the port vessels of the largest class. Inadequate 
appropriations for the improvement of the channel have been here- 
tofore made; but during the session of Congress which terminated 
March 4, 1873, the liberal appropriation of $100,000 was made for 
enlarged prosecution of the work, and a precedent thus established 
which will doubtless secure in future such aid from Congress as the 
interests of the rapidly growing commerce of Toledo may require, 
and enable vessels of the heaviest tonnage that navigate the lakes to 
enter and clear the port without obstruction. 



Railways. — High in importance to the business interests of the 
city, and the one that has contributed more largely than all other 
lines now in operation to place it in its present commercial position, 
is the 

TOLEDO, WABASH AND AVESTERN EAILWAY. 

In the year 1852, two companies were organized, having in view 
the construction of a great through line of railroad, from the city 
of Toledo, Ohio, to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, and through 
auxiliary lines, open a direct route to the extensive producing 
regions of central Indiana and Illinois, and the more prominent 
towns and cities upon the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. 

The corporations thus created, were the Toledo and Illinois Rail- 
road Company, in the State of Ohio, and the Lake Erie, Wabash 
and St. Louis Railway Company, in the State of Indiana, both ot 
which were merged into one, by consolidation, at a subsequent 
period. Through the zealous efforts of the persons having the con- 
trol of the Indiana organization, and who at the time substantially 
represented the interests of the entire undertaking, the Hon. A. 
Boody, of New York, was induced to assume the control and direc- 
tion of the enterprise, provide the means, and undertake the con- 
struction and equipment of the entire road. 



Toledo — Its Railway System. 623 



Upon the couciusion of this arrangement with Mr. Boody — which 
occurred in March, 1853.— that gentleman, with that practical skill 
and business energy which has uniformly characterized all his busi- 
ness operations, proceeded to the immediate organization of the 
means and appliances required for tlie efficient and successful jjrose- 
cution of this large and somewliat difficult work. The preliminary 
surveys and location of the route through the States of Ohio and 
Indiana, were so far advanced, that, early in the month of May, 
1853, the entire line, in both States, was placed under contract, in 
suitable divisions, and to responsible and experienced contractors, 
and the whole was supplied with ample forces of laborers and ma- 
chinery, and all the departments of the work was placed under vig- 
orous and effective management. The grading and general con- 
struction work continued to be prosecuted during the ensuing year, 
with all possible energy, and, notwithstanding the serious difhcul- 
ties encountered by reason of climatic and local hindrances, and 
especially from the general financial depression existing throughout 
the country, the first division of the road, from Toledo to Fort 
Wayne, — a distance of 94 miles, — was opened for business in July, 
1855, and the remaining division, to the State of Illinois, in the 
month of December, 1856. In each and all departments, the work 
was planned and executed as a first-class road, and in adaptation to 
the vast and varied traffic expected to be transported over it. Its 
equipment and machinery was procured from the most celebrated 
manufacturers in the country, and having reference to the highest 
standard of quality and efficiency. The extensive additions more 
recently made to the rolling stock and equipment, and indeed the 
improvements made upon the line generally, indicate an adherence 
to a like standard of thoroughness and completeness, so that in all 
its appointments, it ranks among the first of our American Eail- 
ways. 

tJpon the completion of this great work through Ohio and Indi- 
ana, and with a purpose of fully accomplishing the cardinal objects 
of its projectors, this company has acquired, by perpetual lease or 
consolidation, the control of important lines of continuous and con- 
necting railways, leading to the cities of St. Louis, Hannibal, Quincy, 
Keokuk, Pekin, and Bloomington, thus securing, under one united 
management, about 1,000 miles of railway, passing through a coun- 
try ot unsurpassed fertility, and reaching all the most thriving and 
prosperous towns in Central Illinois, and upon the Mississippi river. 

The advantages to the somewhat remote and inaccessible regions 
of the Maumee Valley, incident to the building of this railway, are 
witnessed in the immediate influx of population, doubling and 
quadrupling its towns, as well as the contiguous country, and espe- 
cially in the marked development and improvement of its agricul- 
tural and other resources. 

To the city of Toledo, this line of railway has brought correspond- 
ing, and possibly still greater advantages. 



624 Toledo — Its Railway System. 



The establishment of its principal terminus at Toledo, and the 
avoidance of consolidation, and other distractinor alliances, has mea- 
surably centralized in that city the vast grain traffic of the most exten- 
sive and productive regions of the west, rendering it one of the most 
important grain markets in the world. Moreover, the localizing of 
its larger manufacturing and repairing shops at Toledo, is conferring 
benefits which must continue to tell with marked and significant 
effect upon its growth in population, as well as its advancement in 
material prosperity. 

The total movement of grain upon the railway of this company, 
for the year 1871 (reducing flour to bushels), was 18,053,282 bushels. 

The movement of grain in the year 1872, reached 21,320,236 
bushels, showing a large annual increase, and which is destined to 
expand in greater proportions with each returning year. 

The officers of this road, elected for 1872-73, are, Azariah Boody, 
New York, President; J. N. Drummond, Assist. President, Toledo ; 
A.Anderson, Vice President, do; William B. Corneau, Secretary 
and Treasurer, do ; Union National Bank, Transfer Agent, New 
York. And among the officers of the line, whose offices are at 
Toledo, are George H. Burrows, Superintendent; John U. Parsons, 
General Ticket Agent; John B. Carson, General Freight Agent; 
John E. Carpenter, Paymaster; W. S. Lincoln, Engineer Ohio and 
Indiana Division; J. I. Nessle, Supply Agent; David Hoit, Master 
Car Repairer ; G. A. Beach, Superintendent Telegraph Line, East- 
ern Division, and W. L. Malcolm, General Passenger Agent. 

LAKE SHOKK AN"D MICHIGAlSr SOUTHEEif. 

The old Erie and Kalamazoo road, one of the first railway enter- 
prises undertaken in the West, formed the nucleus which resulted in 
the construction, at intervals, of the various links which were finally 
consolidated under the name of the Lake Shore and Michigan South- 
ern Eailway, extending to Chicago, a distance of 243 miles; branches 
penetrating the State of Michigan, — one near the southern, two near 
the central, and one towards the western portions of the State. The 
Air Line passes through the extreme Northwestern counties of Ohio 
and Northern Indiana, and the Toledo Division runs along the south 
shore of Lake Erie 

The Erie and Kalamazoo Railway was the first built, and operated west- 
ward of Buffalo, and was projected in the winter of 1833-1833 by Dr. Daniel 
O. Comstock, older brother of Stephen B. and James M. Comstock/in correspon- 
dence with J. W. Scott. Its charter was obtained by the efforts of Addison J. 
Comstock of Adrian, then a member of the Territorial Legislature of Michigan. 
It was allowed to pass, on the supposition that it was a merely fanciful pro- 
ject — out of which could come no harm, but would please the Comstocks of 
Toledo. 

Dr. Comstock was the purchaser, in 1832, of one quarter interest from the 
Port Lawrence company, of river tracts one and two, for $4,500, with an en- 
gagement to act as agent. He was a man of much ability, and good foresight, 
as this purchase and the entry at |1.25 per acre of river tracts 13 and 13, clearly 



Toledo — Its Railway System. 625 

proved. But, be soon died of consumption, leaving his property to brolhprs 
and sisters — making them indrpcndeul, if not rich. The Comstrcks were 
among the principal promoters of the construction of the Erie and Kalamazoo 
Railroad. 

This rond has a repair shop nearly finished, and contomplatG the 
btiilding of car shops during the season, at the '-junction," and these 
impiovenients, wlen com] littd and in opet-ation, will afi*'rd,it is 
expected, employment to at least twelve hundred hands. The val- 
ue of this reinforcement to the manufacturing power of the city, 
can scarcely be over-estimated. 

DAYTO.N" AND MICHIGAN 

Crosses the State of Ohio, and connects Toledo and Cincinnati, and 
is the shortest railway route between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, 
and aSbrds the cheapest avenue for much of the traffic of Ohio, as 
well as of that of States south of that river, seeking the seaboard. 
This road delivered at Toledo, in 1871, about two and a half mil- 
lions bushels of grain, besides large quantities of cotton, live stock, 
tobacco, hard-wood lumber, staves, and other commodities; and car- 
ries hence to ?outhern markets a large amount of lumber, salt, etc. 

TLINT AND PEEE MARQUETTE 

Extends from Toledo by a very direct route, through the Saginaw 
Valley, and during that period of the year when navigation is closed, 
it is the only outlet for the immense products of the pine and salt 
regions of 'Michigan. The opening of this road has greatly in- 
creased the importance of Toledo, as a lumber and salt market. 

TOLEDO, TIFFIN AND EASTERN, 

At. the hour of the issue of this volume, is quite completed, h 
passes through a very rich section of Ohio, to Mansfield, where it 
has important connections. This road connects with the Pennsyl- 
vania Central, and forms a direct line to Philadelphia. It will secure 
to Toledo a large and valuable traffic, and prove a powerful compet- 
itor for eastward- bound freights. The first locomotive passed over 
the road March 10, 1873. 

COLUMBUS AND TOLEDO 

is designed more especially as a coal road, to connect with the Hock- 
ing Valley Railroad at Columbus, and thus furnish an outlet for the 
i-'omI of the Hocking Valley. 

ATLANTIC AND LAKE ERIE 

Is a road now building, designed to run entirely across the State, 
having its southern terminus at Pomeroy, on the Ohio river. It is 
in a forward state of completion, and passes through some of the 
most extensive mineral fields in the State. The Company building 
this road, have acquired very extensive dock lines in this city, for th<.- 
purpose of handling coal and iron ore— this road furnishing the 
hest means for distributing Lake Superior ore among the iron mann- 
facturers in the southern part of the State 
39 



()2(5 Toledo — Its Railway System. 



. TOLEDO, AlSrur AEBOR AND NORTHERN 

Is intended to cross tlie State of Michipjan, running in a northwest- 
erly direction, to Frankfort, on Lake Michigjan. It is nearly com- 
j)leted to the centre ol the State. 

CANADA SOUTHERN. 
This road is designed to run from this city to the Detroit river, 
and, crossing that stream near its moulh, terminate at Fort Erie. 
near Buffalo. The Canada portion of the road, 225 miles in lengtli, 
is ironed and equipped. The line from Toledo to the Detroit river 
is graded, and the entire line to Fort Erie will doubtless be com- 
pleted during the present season. At Fort Erie the road will cross, 
the Niagara river, over a new International Suspension Bridge, where 
it will make connections with the Erie Railway, New York Central, 
the Midland and the Lake Shore (Ontario) road. The opening of 
this new route will afford another outlet to the east, for the immense 
amount of produce maiketed at Toledo, and will be a compttitor of 
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Eailway; and it possesses 
connections which will enable this city to retain, during the winter, 
a large New England trade, Avhich, each year, has gone to other- 
markets, because of the difficulty of shipping to the New England 
States. It is also expected that a connection will be made with the 
Grand Trunk Eailway of Canada, with the Canada Southern; and 
should such be the case, shipments of grain and other produce will 
be made to points in Canada, with as much facility in winter as du- 
ring the summer season. Such a connection also enables Toledo 
shippers to supply northern New England with its produce through- 
out the entire year. 

TOLEDO AND SOUTHWESTERN 

Is designed to run from Toledo through Maumee Cit}', Grand Kapids, 
Van Wert, Wilishire, in Ohio, and thence on nearly an air line to 
Indi- napolis. This road will afford the shortest route from Indian- 
apolis to the east, and, as compared with the present eastern outlet 
from Indianapolis, will lessen the distance to Buffalo upwards of 
fifty miles. 

These several lines may be thus enumerated : L Toledo, Wabash 
and Western. 2. liake Shore Line to Buffalo. 3. Michigan South- 
ern (old line) to Chicago. 4. Air Line to Chicago. 5. Dayton and 
Michigan to Cincinnati. 6. Toledo and Detroit. 7. Flint and Pere 
Marquette. 8. Toledo, Tiffin and Eastern. 0. Columbus and 
TuKdo. 10, Atlantic and Lake Erie. 11. Toledo, Ann Arbor and 
Noithern. 12. Canada Southern. 13. Toledo and Southwestern. 
These routes combine a total distance of nearly 3,000 miles, and 
penetrate regions of great wealth, in agricultural, lumber, and coal 
productions. 

Such of the ancient rivals of Toledo as live to utter any voice 
now manifest pride in her prosperity. The prediction of 
Judge Mason, made nearly forty years ago, that Toledo had an in- 



Toledo — Officers and Mem bers Board of Trade. 627 



terest in the thrift of Manhattan, because ultimately the former 
would extend her boundaries so as to embrace the latter, is even 
now upon the eve of fulfilment. Bat Marengo, Augteilitz, 
etc., fretted their brief hour, and are only known as having speedily 
found their Waterloo. The harbor of Toledo is claimed by business 
men, not only of the Maumee Valley, but by those hundreds of miles 
distant from it. From the time v/hen the writer of this took the 
first federal census of Toledo, and when the population of the vil- 
lage amounted to only 1,2^4, up to this date, when the city con- 
tains, probably, 4o,000, he has ever iMt a deep interest in its 
prosperity. 

The Board of Trade of Toledo being composed largely of represen- 
tative business men of the city, it is deemed proper here to make a 
record of its officers and members : \ 

Officers. — President, John Sinclair ; 1st Vite Presickiit. A. W. Colton ; 2d 
Vice President, E. C. Bodman ; Sooretiuy. Charles T. Wales ; Trcasiuer. 
Carlos Colton. 

Directors— T. B. Casej', S. C. Rejmolds, H. E. Bang?, Y. Hamilton, H. .T. 
Hayes, W. H Bellman, J. B. Carson. 

Ilejercnce Committee— Oe.nra-.e Woodbury, F.. W. Anderson, C. A. King, W. R. 
Richards, -T. R. Strong. 

Inspection Committer— E. C. Smith, N. M. Howard, .T. Thornor, R. W. Baker, 
£. Williams. 

Floor Committee— Zohn Stevens, H. S. YonnG-, E. A. Curtis. 



The following is a list of the members : 



Auchard, C. 
Anderson, F. W. 
Austin, M. H. 
Avery, Ed. 
Anderson, A. 
Andrews, A. Jr. 
Andrews, F. B. 

Brooks, Sam'l. 
Baumgardner, L. S. 
Birckhead, P. H. 
Berdan, P. F. 
Buck, C. H. 
Buckman, Wm. H. 
Boos, G. W. 
Backus, A. L. 
Backus, W. W. 
Brown, Matthew. 
Bodman, E. C. 
Braisted, E. E. 
Bashare, Milo. 
Baker, C. H. 
Brown, E. F. 
Bowman, J. H. 
Baldy, J. B. 
Bellman, W. H. 
Brand, Henry. 



Boody, Azariah. 
Burdick, L. 
Brown, H. G. 
Brainurd, W. S. 
Bangs, H. E. 
Biildwin, D. C. 
BuUard, E. M. 
Blinn, Doan 
Baldwin, S. 
Brown, Andrew. 
Baker, R. W. 
Braun, V. 
Brov. n, Stillman. 
Brown, D. A. 
Brown, W. O. 
Brown, T. P. 
Bergen, S. H. 
Bauer, Emil. 

Curtis, C. F. 
Coy, C. H. 
Collins, T. J. 
Curtis, E. A. 
Colton, A. W. 
Croninger, C. A. 
Crowell, J. 
Coon, W. M. 



Crabbs, P. 
Carrington, !M. D. 
Casey ,^T. B. 
Carson, J. B. 
Cummings, John. 
Castle, J. A. 
Curtis, J. C. 
Cook, T. M. 
Casement, J. S. 
Courtright, T. 

Dodge, F. B. 
Doville, E. 
Davis, G. W. 
Daniel, [I. 
Dickinson, R. ('. 
Dennis, J. A. 
Drummond, J. N. 
Dixon, N. 
Dickinson, J. S. 
Di.K, W. B. Jr. 
Dyer, W. H. 
Dick, Slurgis T. 

Emerson, Geo. 
Eddy, C. H. 
Enright, Jno. 



628 Toledo— Officers of the City Government. 



Finlay, W. J. 
Fbke, H. F. 
Fisk, J. B. 
Fisk, W. C. 
Fallis, J. R. 
Foster, F. E. ^ 
Flo-wer, G. W. 
Fuller, J. W. 
Fiich, Simeon 

Griffin, G.r. 
Ooldsmiili, E. 
Gt-rber, C. 
Griffltli, W. W. 
Godard, A. 
Goode, B. W. 
Go>lme, VV. A. 
Gassaway, George 

Ilallaran.R. 
Hamilton, V. 
Halhaway, I. N. 
Howard, N. M. 
Hayes, H. J. 
Hubbard, Franklin. 
Hamilton, U. W. 
Hurd, Frank, H. 
Hamm, P. T. 
Hart, G. W. 
Hand, A. J. 
Hazzard, Sam'l. P. 

Jones, Lncien. 
Jones, Jno. Paul. 

Kraus, William. 
Ketcliam, J. B. 
Keen, D. M. 
Kelly, W. I. 
King, C. A. 
Kii'injjtT J. 
Kelley, W. H. 
Kouiiis. J. L. 
Kftcham, V. H. 
King, F. J. 
keiisey, A. L. 
Keck, T. L. 
Kelsiy, J. W. 



Luce, C. L. 
Linton, S. S. 
Littletield, W. 
Littleficld, M. R. 
Lendersou, E. W. 
Landman, J. 

Macomber, A. E. 
McCune, Roltt. 
Messinger, C. R. 
Milmine, George 
! Meissner, George 
IMonroe, J. B. 
Morse, J. C. 
McMaken, E. V. 
McMillan, W. A. 
McLaughlin, A. S. 
Miller, David. 

Norton, J. S. 
Neal, J. M. S. 

Osbon, W. H. 

Fhilipps, Henry 
Parmelee, W. E. Jr. 
Pomeroy, Geo. E. Jr. 
Phillips, P. A. 
Peter, William. 
Pomeroy, H. B. 
Piatt, H. P. 

Reed, Alex. 
Rolland, G. H. 
Richards, W. R. 
Reynolds, S. C. 
Royce, C. H. 
Rouse, B. W. 
Reynolds, Chas. L. 
Roemer, J. 
Raymond, George 

Swigart, J. R. 
St. John, William 
Slack, T. A. 
Sinclair, John. 
Southard, T. 



Smith, D. B. 
Simmons, W. H- 
Smith, E. C. 
Stevens, John 
Stevens, John H. 
Scribner, Charles. 
Shoemaker, F. B. 
Swayue, Wager. 
Stephan, Andrew. 
S»cor, J. K. 
Shears, Sam'l. 
Siowe, W. L. 
Strong, J. R. 
Stebbins, Geo. 
Scott, W. C. 
Segur. D. 
Sweet, B. G. 

Tate, Jno. W. 
Tate, J. S. 
Tate, D. M. 
Thorner, Joseph 
Try on, W. W. 

Walbrid":e, H. S. 
Waite, M. R. 
Wuerfel, G. A. 
Wittstein, Gus. 
Williams, E. 
Wales, C. T. 
Whitaker, W. H. 
Watkins, George 
Walbridge, H. D. 
Woodbury. Geo. 
Williams, E. R. 
Woodward, H. D. 
Wilcox, M. L 
Walker, W. T. 
Whitney, B. H. 
Walterhouse, J. W. 
Wilde, L L. 
Wiltbank, W. B. 
Waite, H. S. 

Young, H. S. 
Young, S. M. 
Young. C. L. 



CITY GOVERNMENT OF TOLEDO-1873. 

Mayor, William W. Jones; City Solicitor, Frank H. Hurd; Members of tl»e 
Council, Wm. St. John, J. E. BaiL^, Luther Whitney, Geo. btetter T M. 
Cook R H. Bell, J. W. Toullerton, Geo. Meissner, Daniel Segur, K. J. «iU- 
bon J Mcb. rW, I. K. Seaman, J. L. Stratton, Joseph Kinmger, Michael 
Geelan Wm H. Dyer. President, Luther Whitney; President, pro tem.., T. 
M. Cook ; City Clerk. T. M. Merrill. 



Toledo — Banks and Bankem. G29 



MONETARY— BANKS AND BANKERS. 

Toledo commenced its business life at a period when tlie fiuanot's of ibi' 
country were in a disturbed condition, "growing out of tlie etiort of llie United 
States Bank to obtain from Couiiress a re-charter. Duriu;^: tlie " Hush limes" 
of 1835 and 1830, paper money ruled all values, and everybody was rich in 
" rags and lamp black," and " water" or " corner" lois. There then existed, on 
beautifully engraved maps, one continuous city from the moutii to the foot ot 
ihe rapids of the Maumee river, A spiiit, adverse to making money by the 
old methods, was rife tliroughout tlie land. The few wlio held to former ways 
of accumulation, were regard' d by the multitude as "old fogies," and "behind 
the age." It was a common occurrence of tliat period for a man who had 
made fortunate investments, tliough owning but a few liundreds the day be- 
fore, to be considered worth as n.any llioirsands the day after; but like all 
mania of this type, the decline of these brilliant prospects was generalli' as 
rai)id as its rise. 

There were very few manufacturing or nieclianical establishments. The> 
were not in demand; and if thej' had been, there were none to operate them. 
Farmers had mostly deserted their fields; mechanics their shops; physicians 
and lawj-ers, to a considerable extent, their offices ; and even many clergymen 
their pulpit.s, — all classes and conditions of people becoming seized wiili the 
fever of speculation, and of gathering speedy wealth by means of their wits. 
Every one was rich. He indeed was a thriftless man, who, in thefc times, 
was not qualified to assess his real estate at a value greater than $50,000. 
Old ideas of obtaining competen.-y and wealth in fields of legitimate industry, 
were banished; and old-fashioned toil was at a discount. 

The specie circular, issued from the Treasury i)epartment, under J-'ckson's 
administration, was tollovved by the general bank suspension uuder Van Bu- 
ren, in May, 1837. Coin disappeared as a circulating medium. Tlie exigen- 
cies of the times created a substitute in the form of a fractional currency then 
issued by almost every business man, and known as "shin -plasters," reading 
something as follows : 

j " Toledo, July 4, 1838. i 

I "Good for Twenty-Five Cents, when presented in sums amounting to I 
i " Five Dollars, at my store in Toledo. JOHN DOE." ! 

Thus, every one who chose became his own banker. And this fractional cur- 
rency was generally redeemed, either in goods, at enormous profits, or in Mich- 
igan bank notes, the intrinsic value of which could not be estimated b}' the 
amount promised to be paid, but proximately ascertained, by the scales paper 
manufacturers resort to, in the purchase of their stock. Such was the circula- 
ting medium, not only in Toledo and the M lumee Valley, but throughout the 
west and south, which soon followed the general bank susi'enMon of May, 
1837 — the currency by which all values, for the time, were measured. 
Mr. Mott, in his valuable reminiscences, thus graphically sketches this period : 
" Hardly was the digging begun on the Ohio portion of the canal, when the 
financial break-down of 1837 came, involving banks and individuals in the 
general ruin. It is difficult to make the present generation comprehend the 
depth and extent of the disaster. Real estate became worthless— worse than 
worthless ;— it would bring nothing; yet, taxes were necessarily assessed upon 
it, which were difficult, if not impossible, of payment. Lots and lands were 
offered for sale tor taxes; but very small was the amount sold. This was 
especially the case in 18y8. 1839, and 1810. The publication of the extraordi- 
nary delinquent and forfeited lists, occupied several full sheets of supple- 
ments of the Toledo Blade. It mattered little what the amount of debt 
one owed ;— were it ever so small, the debtor was powerless— pay he 
could not. It was vain to offer anything but money; yet, money was not to 
be had ; and afe for credit, it had no existence. The people had become dcmen- 



630 Toledo — Banhs and Banhers. 



ted by the mania of speculation. The looked-for rise in the value of town 
lots and town sites, was to have made every one rich without labor. The rise 
did not come, but the fall did ; and the tumble Avas beyond getting up from. 
The only rise that followed, was in the prices of provisions and other necessa- 
ries of life. The army of speculators had become consumers, without adding 
anything to the common stock. The consequently limited production was inad- 
equate to our support. Flour doubled in price in the next year. Only those 
wlio owed nothing, or those who had notliing, escaped the effects of the insane 
delusion. It was a bitter experience, but it taught practical lessons in political 
economy sufficiently impressive to have lasted the lifetime of every scholar, 
smarting under their infliction. 

" In few places were the effects of the crash felt as severely as in tlie Mau- 
raee Valley. The contractors, who had taken jobs on the canal, could not go 
on with their v^ork for want of money. The State was out of funds, and short 
of credit, and could not pay according to contract. It was feared that the 
work would be stopped — and, if stopped, its resumption might be indennite. 
Much anxiety was felt on the subject, and various plans suggested to preveni 
such misfortune. 

"Subsequent to the crash of 1837, the State of Michigan enacted a general 
banking law, ■with the forlorn hope of remedying the financial trouble, and 
numberless banks had been started under its provisions — all of them by par- 
ties who wanted to borrow, and not one of them with any actual capital. — 
These concerns soon became known as the wild-cat banks. Michigan money 
was in poor repute in Ohio, and not generally received. 

" In order to prevent the suspension of the canal work, arrangements were 
made for loaning this wild-cat money to contractors and for the business men 
of the town to receive it from the workmen in payment for goods and provi- 
sions. The remedy was a desperate one, but it did keep the work in many 
cases from suspension. These bank notes were worthless ; but it was supposed 
or hoped they might possibly have some value. Their '■robin's alive ' charac- 
ter gave them a very rtuick circulation ; and thuf? this villainous trash was 
made serviceable, keeping along the contracts on the canal for several months, 
till the State was able to pay off the contractors. It was under such circum 
stances that the work, especially in the sections about Toledo, Maumee and 
Manhattan, was carried to completion. The wild-cat system of course soon 
exploded, loading the community with piles of broken bank notes, nearly as 
valueless as so many pieces of blank paper. A very few of the institutions 
struggled along for a few years, but eventually had to succumb, for in 1843 the 
Supreme Court of Michigan considerately stepped in and decided the law to 
be unconstitutional — thus saving all further trouble, and squelching all suits 
and proceedings that had been commenced in the vague hope of realizing some- 
thing ti-om their so-called assets. 

" Some of the then residents of Toledo may recollect a handsome grey horse, 
owned in the city, called " wild-cat." He was bought by one of the old citi- 
zens who is still living, for $2,300 of these bank notes, instead of $;70 in par 
money, which was the price asked for. him. 

"Banks were at Monroe and Adrian — but of small capitals and lecis means. 
The business men were sometimes obliged to resort to Detroit and Cleveland, 
and even as far as Buffalo, for money facilities. Think of these distances, with the 
slow modes of travel then at command. In 184o Prentiss, Dow & Co., estab- 
lished a branch office in Toledo, first opening in the second story office of the 
building then standing where Markschoeffel & Bro., near corner ]\lonroe and 
Summit Streets, now^'conduct business. This was followed in 1845 by two 
branches of the State Bank of Ohio — the Bank of Toledo and the Commercial 
Bank — Chas. R. Miller, cashier of the former, and Matthew Johnson of the 
laiter. Miller was not successful at banking, and quit it in 1818. He then es- 
tablished the Toledo Republicaa, a Democratic free soil sheet, conducted with 
considerable ability, in which he was associated with Josiah Riley, who con- 
tinued the paper some years after Miller left it. The Bank, af tep long struggles. 



Toledo — Ba nhs and Banhe r$. C 3 1 



was taken hold of by strong parties, and fell in char!?'* of Simnol M. Yonnp, 
President, and Paul Jones, Cashier, under wiioso m:in;i,!^enicnt it is now known 
as the Toledo National Bank. Tlic Commercial Bank was still more unsuc- 
cessful, and was woundup in 1-51. Its Cashier, Mr. Jolinson, was Unit'.d 
Slates Marshal for tiie Federal District of Northern Ohio under Mr. Buchanan. 
He died in Cleveland in 18()2." 

Returning, finally, and for tlii? purpose of completing the record, to the 
period of intoxication resulting from the flood of irredeemable bank issues and 
its demoralizing effects upon morals and business, when the agricultural pro- 
ductions of the country had become suspended to a degree that even bread- 
stutfs were imported from Europe, instead of being sent there, it mav 
be mentioned as an honorable point in Toledo historv that no worthless 
banking establishment, so common at that day. in the West and South, and 
organized for plunder, found welcome or " hospitality witliin its limits. 
Here the old ways of business integrity struggled manfully airain t the temp- 
tations of the time. A nice sense of commercial honor, wliicli has in all in- 
i-tances been the guide of men who have adjusted permanently the foundations 
of great cities, was the rule of the early business men of the place, and has 
been adhered to by their successors. 

One or two banks, it is true, have existed, whose assets have passed into the 
hands of receivers, but note-ho)ders were secured. 

Having given this general sketch, it may be stated that, in 1873-73, the bank- 
ing facilities of the city are in the hands of five Natioua] Banks, whose aggre- 
gate capital, exclusive of surplus, is, $1,800,06000 

And private and Savings' BanKs, and Loan Associations, whose 

capital and deposits may be stated at $2,425,000 GO 

Making a total of $1,22), 000 00 

The history and condition of some of the more prominent of these institu- 
tions are here briefly sketched : 

FIRST NATIOX.iL BAXK OF TOLEDO. 

In 1851, a private bank, known as Poag & Ketcham, and in the follow ins; 
year, under the name of V. H. Ketcham & Co., was in operation, and contuiu- 
ed until 1860, when the style of the firm became Ketcham. Berdan &, Co. This 
latter organization, in 18(32, was dissolved, and the First Nitioual B.mk of To- 
ledo established upon its capital — being one of the earliest National B mks or- 
ganized in Ohio. Its capital now amounts to §500,000, and its surplus to 
$100,000. Its president, commencing as one of the first merchants, is among 
the oldest now in banking business in Toledo. Since the organization of this 
bank, very few changes have been made in its management. Its otticars now 
are, V. H. Ketcham, President ; M. Nearing, Vice President; S. S. Hubbard, 
Cashier; Joseph Spencer, Teller; V. H. Ketcham, M. Neiring, Geo. Spencer. 
Charles F. Curtis, T. B. Casey, M. Boos and S. S. Hubbard, Directors. 

TOLEDO JfATION'AL BANK. 

This institution, referred to by Mr. Mott as " having passed into the hands 
of strong parties," is now under the management of Samuel 31. Youmr, Presi- 
dent; Paul Jones, Cashier; H. C. Habn, teller, and S. M. Young, Morrison 
R. Waite, P. H. Birckhead, Horace S. Walbrii-lge, Directors. Its capital 
amounts to $300,000. 

THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK OF TOLKDO 

Is controlled by those among the most substantial business men of the city. 
The following named gentlemen compose its officers and Board of Directors: 
George W. Davis, President; Joseph K. Secor, Vice President, Charles F. 
Adams, Cashier ; Nelson Todd, jr., Teller ; G. W. Davis, J. K. Secor, D. Cogh- 
lin, J. A. Moore, Robert Cummiugs, Matthew Brown, Warren Colburn, F. J 
King and P. F. Berdan, Directors. 



632 Toledo — Banks and Bankers. 



NORTHERN NATIONAL BANK. 

The following' representative business men control this institutution : E. C. 
Bodman, President ; O. S. Bond, Vice President ; F. B. Shoemaker, Cashier ; 
L. C. De Wolf, Teller ; and E. C. Bodm«n, M. Shoemaker, F. B. Shoemaker. 
O. S. Bond, J. H. Whitaker and^W. V. Way, Directors. 

MERCHANT S NATIONAL BANK. 

Authorized capital, i!^l,000,000 ; paid up capital, $500,000. This institution, 
also, is in the hands of strong financial parties, consisting of W. W. Griffith, 
President ; N M. Howard, Vice President ; Chas. C. Doojittle, Cashier ; Monroe 
C. Warn, Teller, and W. W. Griffith, J. H. Whitaker, John Cummings, J. B. 
Baldy, WagrT Swayne, A. P. Miller, C. R. Messinger. N. M. Howard,. Fred'k. 
Eaton, W. W. Bolles and B. Meilink, Directors. 



PRIVATE BANKS. 

In addition to the five National Banks above mentioned, Toledo has at this 
time four Private Banks, doing business under the following names : 

THE CITY BANK. 

This is one of the oldest private banks in Toledo — the firm being composed 
of Wm. Kraus and Wm. H. Smith, both having large experience in banking 
and of the highest financial credit. 

c. H. COY & CO. 

This firm is composed of Cyrus H. Coy and Warren Waite, who have also 
been engaged in banking for several years, and command the confidence in a 
high degree of their patrons. 

THE BANK FOE THE PEOPLE. 

H. ?. Walbridge, one of the most active and influential citizens of Toledo, 
is the proprietor of this bank, assisted by E. H. Van Hoesen as Cashier. The 
credit of the bank stands very high, and it is regarded as one of the most 
reliable moneyed institutions in the cit}^ 

KEELER, HOLCOMB & CO. 

This firm is composed of Salmon N. Keeler, Horace Holcomb, and Elijah N. 
Norton, They bring to their business experience, combined with ample capi- 
tal, and the credit of the bank ranks with the first. 



SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. 

The Toledo S.wings Institution is the oldest incorporated savings bank 
in Toledo. It was incorporated in May, 1868, by Hon. Richard Mott, Hon. 
James C. Hall, Joseph K. Secor, Frank J. Scott, Israel Hall, James M. Corn- 
stock, Ignatius Wernert, Bernard Meilink, John T. Maher, John F. Witker 
and Albert E. Macomber. Among these gentleme.i the public will recognize 
some of the oldest and most substantial business men of Toledo. The charter 
was obtained because " it was believed that such an institution would add 
largely to the capital of the city, and would be a powerful incentive to habits 
of indu-itry and economy among our large laboring population." The 
object was " to encourage the industrious and prudent, and to in- 
duce those who have not hitherto been such, to lessen their unnecessary 
expenses and to save and lay by something for a period of life when they will 
be less able to earn a support." The present Board of Trustees are Hon. 
Richard Molt, Hon. Guido Marx, John P. Freeraan, Horace S. Walbridge, 
Edward Malone. David R. Locke and Albert E. Macomber. The officers are, 
H'^n. Richard Mott, President, E-Uvard Mahme, Vice President, Albert E. 
Macomber, Treasurer, and Wm. H. Reed, Cashier. This institution has a 
capital of $103,000. and its deposits, according to the last published state- 
ment, were upwards of $300,000. It is nianaged in the most cautious 



Toledo — Labor mid Loan Associatmis. 633 



and conservative manner ; its business is confincil exrhisively to llie receipt 
and investment of savings deposits, upon viiiirli it pays interest at tlie rate of 
six per cent, per annum, compounded semi-annually. No commercial or 
.general banking business is transacted. As regards its general rules and 
routine of business, it coincides with the oldest and most reliable institution^ 
of the same class in New York and New England. All depositors are re- 
quired to subscribe to the by-laws ot the institution, and to give notice of the 
withdrawal of deposits, in case of financial excitement. The In.'itiiution dis- 
counts no commercial paper and accepts no personal securities. Its deposits 
are held as tnist fwrnU, and carefully invested in mortgages upon real estate 
in Toledo ; bonds of the city of Toledo, and United States Government bonds. 
The admirable cu'^tom of making an annual exhibit of its alFairs for the benefit 
of the public is adopted. In maki'^g loans upon real estate preference is given 
to those who deposit with it, and who desire to build houses or purchase free- 
hold property or remove incumbrance therefrom. About two bundled 
thousand dollars has for several years been loaned and redoaned upon real 
estate security, and by this means some hundreds of lamilies have been aided 
in securing homes. The conservative management of the Institution, together 
with the character of its Trustees, have secured lor it the fullest contldonce ot 
the large class of depositors for whose benefit it was established. 

THE KORTH WESTERN SAA'INGS DEPOSITORY 

Was incorporated in 1889 with a capital of $100,000. Its Directors are, 
Horace S. Walbridge, Hon. M. II. Waite, Hon. Richard Mott, Heman D. 
Walbridge, David Smith, A. E. Macomber and ValentineBraun. The officers 
are, Horace S. Walbridge, President, Hon. M. R. Waite, Vice President, and 
E. H. Van Hoesen, Treasurer. It receives deposits from mechanics, clerks, 
laborers, servants and others, and pays therefor interest at the rate of six per 
cent, per annum, compounded semi-annually. Its business is managed with 
great care, and commands the fullest confidence of the public. Its Directors 
are among the most solid business men of the city. 

THE merchant's AXD CLERK's SAVINGS INSTITUTION. 

Capital, $150,000; President. Matthew Shoemaker; Vice President, Chas. 
L. Luce ; Treasurer, Oliver S. Bond ; Directors, Matthew Shoemaker, Chas. 
L. Luce, Oliver S. Bond, N. M. Howard, James Secor, Fred'k Eaton, E. H. 
Wright, L. M. Skidmore and John H. Whitaker. This institution has recently 
fitted up and removed into an elegant banking room in the building of O. 8. 
Bond, 78 Summit street. Though youngest of its class, it is under control of 
some of the most substantial business men of Toledo. 



BUILDING LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. 

THE GERMAN LABORER'S SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION 

Was organized in 18 9. The present officers are, Fred. Gridolph, President, 
31. Boop, Vice President, and John P. Schuck, Secretary and Treasurer; and 
Jacob Lnndman, M. Boos, William Krau«, John A. Speyer, F. Gradolph, 
Charles Villliaufr. Ignatius Wernert, Andrew Spross and George Slett<r, 
Director'!. These gentlemen are prominent in business circles and possess the 
confidence of their German fellow citizens. This is a co-operative associa- 
tion for the benefit of its members. It also receives deposits, upon which 
in 'crest is p;iid. . . . A , ^ 

Tlie following Buildinsr Loan Associations were also organized for the mutual 
ben< fit of all the member'^. All iiayraeuts upon shares are loaned to member* 
for building purposes. No deposits are received. _ 

The Toledo Savings and Building Loan Association ; Edwin Morgan, 1 resi- 
dent, 

Tlio Mechanic's Savings and Building Loan Association ; Wm. C. Earl, 
President. 



634 Toledo— Irisuranc5 Companies, 



The Mutual Savings and Building Loan Association ; D. A. Pease, Presi- 
dent. 

Tlie Farmer's and Mechanic's Savings and Building Loan Associat'on ; A. 
McMahan, Secretuy and Treasurer. 

The Laborer's Savings and Buikling Loan Association ; Wm. W. Jones, Presi 
dent ; O. S Bond, Secretary and Treasurer. 

The Equitable Savings and Building Loan Association ; A. Saxauer, Presi- 
dent. 

The Provident Savings and Building Loan Association. 

Industrial Savings and Buikling Loan Association ; Alex. Rsed. President, 
O. S. Bond, Secretary and Treasurer. 



INSURANCE COMPANIES. 

Life, Fire and Marine Inmrance. — The amount paid annually on premiums 
through Lite Insurance Companies represented in Toledo amouiat to IISS.OOO. 

Tbe Guardian Mutual of New York is the only foreign Company havuig a 
member of the Board of Directors a resident of Toledo; — and this fact gives it 
the character of a home Company, as western interests are managed, to a large 
extent, by this Directory. The Board is composed of gentlemen who, on tne 
(5Core of llnancial ability and character, possess a national reputation. 

The Executive offlcers consist of Vi^alton H. Peckham, President ; Wm. T. 
Hooker, Vice President; Lucius MfAdam, Secretary and Actuary; Henry C. 
Clench, Assistant Secretary, and W. E. Vermilye, Medical Examiner. The 
Branch Office in Toledo is in charge of Chas. P. Griffin, Esq., manager for the 
area embracing Western and Central Ohio, Southern Michigan and Northern 
Indiana, with B. F. Griffin. General Travelling Agent ; D. A. Curtis, Cashier, 
and Dr Geo. W, Bo wen, Medical Examiner. 

The Toledo Branch office is in Nos. 30 and 31, Chamber of Commerce build- 
ing, embracing one of the finest suite of rooms in that splendid block. This 
branch has been under its present management about four years, and the gross 
receipts ol the business within the territorial limit above named, amounted for 
the year ending July, 1873, to over §100,000. This Company is purely mutual- 
does its business on the all cash plan — makes dividends at the end of one year, 
which dividends may be used to reduce second payment, or to increase policy. 
AH its policies are non-forfeiting after two payments, except the Tontine Sav- 
ings Policies, which are a specialty. The assets of the Company are now over 
$8,<'00,(i00. The home companies are: 

Home Insurance Company; George W. Davis, President. 

Mutual Insurance Company of Toledo ; C. A. King, President. 

Germania Insurance Company of Toledo; John F. Witker, President. 

Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Toledo; V. H. K^itcham, President. 

Toledo Mutual Life Insurance Company; S. H. Bergen, President. 

Toledo Branch, Missouri Valley Life Insiinmce Company; Wm. Baker. 
President. 



MANUFACTURES AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. 

The first of these are destined to become one of the chief sources of the wealth 
of Toledo. Several railway lines, which will soon be opened, will secure the 
delivtry of coal at as cheap rates as are furnished manufacturers at any of the 
lake port or interior cities; and no city on the chain of lakes will 
have better facilities for transportation, to any part of the world, of manufac- 
tured goods. 

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway, after their contemplated 
improvements are made, will give employment to from 1,000 to 1,500 men ; and 
a wagon shop soon to be ertcted, will employ from 600 to 1,000. 



Toledo — Manufactures and other Industries. 635 



Some of the prominent establisliments, engaged in these important interests, 
are mentioned below : 

ArtUU. — Eight photograph galleries— the principal fif which is mnnaged by 
Norih & Oswald, Chamber ot CiMiimerce building. Tliis firm, and Mr. ShoHff, 
ot Fort Wayne, produced the best photographs', from which ihe lithographs 
that embellish this work, were taken. W. H. Macben, Gradolph Block, has 
produced works of art that have challenged the admiration of conii)etcnt critics 
at home and abroad. The Toledo Commercial, in June, 1872, had the Iqllowing 
notice of jMr. Machen's work : 

Mr. W. H. Machen, a well known artist of this city, has just completed for 
D. AV. H. Howard, Esq., of Fulton County, two very fine companion paintings, 
which will be more readily understood from a brief historical statement. 

In 1838 Mr. Edward Howard, with his family (including Mr. D. W. H. How- 
ard,) settled on a tract of land at the head ol the rapids and on the south bank 
of the Maumee River, near to the site of the present village ot Grand Rapids, 
(late Gilead) at which time the country was almost entirely new. One ot the 
paintings represents the log-house and surioundings of the pioneer family, with 
file rapids in front and an almost unbroken lorest on each side and in rear. 
Three islands appear in the river, of which one has since been washed away bj' 
the water. On the back opposite to the cabin appear several Indian wigwams, 
with two or three Indians about — the hour being too early for many of those 
late-risers to be out. Further up the stream and at the water's edge stand sev- 
eral deer, held at bay by the appearance of the elder Howard and family on 
the opposite shore ; while still further up, appear two wolves, having evident 
designs on the deer, who subsequently take fright at their known ciaemy and 
cross the stream above the log-house. Near the cabin was a piece ot clear 
ground, which subsequently was w^isheil away by the water. It is a truly 
primitive scene, and one well calculated to enlist the love and attachment of 
one whose childhood is associated with it. 

The second painting presents the same locality as seen at this time, with all 
the changes which half a century has wrought. The dense forests have melted 
away; Indians, deer and wolves have disappeared ; the log cabin has been sup- 
planted by a stone dwelling; improvement is seen on every hand, including a 
dam across the river, a canal on the north side, cultivated lands on both sides, 
and the towns of Grand Rapids and Providence in the distance. The contrast 
is great, but can best be appreciated by one who, like Mr. Howard, the present 
owner of the original 'clearing,' haaliom the tirst been identified in life and 
interest with it. 

It was eminently fitting that local paintings like these should be executed by 
a home artist, and we are glad that one so fullj' qualified for ihe work was 
at hand, in which view all who examine these works will fully agree. The 
chief difficulty in the case grew out of the first view for which Mr. Machen was 
dependent upon the verbal description furnished by Mr. Howard's recollection ; 
but the picture shows all the naturalness of a copy from nature. Both are ex- 
cellent in design and admirable in execution. 

Besides these. Mr. Machen has painted two scenes on Mr. Howard's home- 
stead farm in Fulton county, eight miles from Wauseon, which are very at- 
tractive in view and most successfully painted. 

We much admire Mr. Howard's taste and judgment in thus directing his at- 
tention to the collection of pictures of home life, instead ot gathering views 
from foreign and unknown Iticalilies, chiefly valued because they are far- 
fetched and strange. We cherish likenesses of friends and acquaintances more 
than those of strangers, on account ot our personal relations to and knowledge 
of them. Why should not the same principle apply to localities '? Few people 
buy photographs of strangers, merely because they are handsome or odd ; no 
more should they seek unknown landscapes having no stronger hold on their 
interest and affection, e?perially while so many home scenes, constituting parts 
of our very selves, are at hand. 



638 Toledo — Manufactures and other' Industries. 



O. J. Hopkins, the designer of the frontispiece for this volume, is an artist of 
rare merit and clevernt-ss. His productions are published in the illustrated 
papers of the Atlantic and other cities, and his reputation a:^ a carricaturist has 
a vigorous growth. 

Armutrong Heater ManvJacfMring Company. — This establishment was in- 
corporated in January of the present year, r.nd has erected a building front- 
ing 38 on Summit, Vi'Z en Locust, and an L of 50 ieet. occupied as a foundry. 
The Company already, within the first six months of its existence, atford em- 
ployment to a force of 50 men. 

Ales. — Finlay & Klemm manufacture a quality of ale that has achieved a 
market in the principal cities in Ohio and the West — their goods being shipped 
nearly to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. They produced in 1872, 
15,000 bbls; and the enlargement of their facilities now in progress, will pro- 
bably enable them to double this amount during the current year. They em- 
ploy an average of 30 hands. 

Bathing Booms. — Three public bathing rooms, principal of which is 170 
Summit street, Taylor & Freer, proprietors, having fourteen elegantly fitted 
rooms. Attached to this establishment is the most extensive laundry in 
Ohio. 

Beer. — The value of lager beer manufactured at five establishments in 1871 
was estimated at $291,61)0, and the probable amount for the current year is 
f 108,800. Employment is given to abimt 155 hands. 

Of last year's business, the establishment of Grasser & Brand made sales 
amounting to $90,000. The firm, daring the first year, made sales scarcely 
reaching $10,i00. This year they will amount fully to $150,000, and thei'r 
establishment, thou^^h the y(;ungest, furnishes the largest local supply. 

The Toledo Brewuig Company, established by the well known Peter Lenk, 
was re-organized during 1871 under the following management : President, 
Peter Lenk ; Vice President and Superintendent, Fred. Lang ; Secretary and 
Treasurer, Geo. Stetter; Directors, Peter Lenk, F. Lang, Geo. Stefter, J' hn 
Groenwold and Fred. Gradolph. This is a powerful organization, and involves 
the consolidation with the Eagle Brewery, owned by F. Lang & Co. It will here- 
after, by reason of its great resources, rank as one of the most extensive brew- 
eries in Ohio. The quality ot this beer is said to compare favor -ibly with that 
manufactured at Chicago, Cincinnati or Milwaukee. Shipments are made to 
New York City, and West to the neighborhood of Chicago. 

The brewery of A. Stephan & Co., also occupies a prominent position. 

B'Viard Tables — O. D. Benjamin employs twelve hands in the manufacture 
of Billiard Tables, and sells work amounting to an annual value of $156,000. 
He also deals in Billiard materials, ten-pin balls, &c., and has an improved Bil- 
liard cushion that is superseding others .fdtherto in use. Tlie quality of his 
work is such as to authorize the c iuclusi<Mi that the sceptre, fo long held by 
Phelan, has accompanied tlie star of empire westward, and is now held by 
Benj imin of Toledo, who has also recently established a house at Cleveland for 
the manufacture of his tables and improved cushions, Twenty years ago there 
was no establishment manufacturins- billiards in Cincinnati, or in any city in 
Ohio. 

Carver and Gilder. — James Breretou & Son, 243 Summit street, conduct the 
only house in this line of goods, and manufacture window cornices, manile, 
square, oval, walnut, gilt and rosewood frames. 

Cigars. — The books of the United States Assessor show that 2,880,166 cigars 
were manufactured last year by twenty-nine establishments, of whicit 2,72.-,229 
were sc>ld ; and that to prof'uce this amount 55 hands were employed. 

The principal establishment, as exhibited by the same authority, and employ- 
ine the largest force and c ipit il, is that of Clark Scripture «& Co., since become 
Dyer, Scripture &, Bassett, corner of Monroe street and Market Space,who employ 



Toledo — Manufactures and other Industries. 037 



twenty -six hands, and in 1870 manufactured 830,200 cigars, or nearly one-third 
the whole amount jiroduced by the 29 factories Ur. Scripture commenced a 
small business in February, 1888, in Lenk's Biock, with one opeiaiive, and 
manufacturinc? 8,000 or 10,000 per monih. Durina; the current year, at the rate 
of the June and July returns, the present firm will approximate a millic^n and 
a quarter before the close ot the year. Their nrincipai brands are the *' Board 
of Trade," "Overland," "Guardian," and " Little Minnie." 

Con/fc^i'^TienVs— Wholesale.— Four establishments, viz : F. Gradolph & Bro., 
Worts & Co., Craig, Fleming & Co., and S. E. Fox, manuiacture caudits, and 
produce an hnnual value Hmounting to $55,' 00. 

Boors Sash, Blinds, Moul'^ings, dr.— Fourteen establishments are engaged in 
these and kindred mauulacluie, and produce an annual value of §350,000. 

Flour.— F\xc grist millp, nnmrly: The Tobdo (Fallis & Llmon,) Armada, 
(W. K. & W. B. Reynolds, Mich., and S. C, Reynolds, Toledo,) Piilicd's, 
Brown's and the Manhattan, and four at Maumee City, and one at i'enysburg 

eleven in all— are engaged mostly on custom work, i.nd employ an active force 

of 117 hands, and have a capacity for turning out nearly half a million bbls. 
of flour— equivalent to a consumption of two and a half millions bushel? of 
wheat. 

H tels, <£t— Toledo contains 18 hotels and 85 boarding houses, and three 
hotels conducted upon tht. European plan : Conway's, ^01 Summit street : 
Van Buren's, Summit street, and Congress Hall, Adams street. 

Ice.— The Elevator Ice W^orks, on the east side of the liver, put up last win- 
ter 2a,000 tons. This establishment, owned by Mr. Thomas, is the largest wes-t 
cf Boston, and east of Chicago. Three lesser establishments, it is estimated, 
secured in their houses during last winter 15,000 tons. 

Iron.—T\\e Novelty Iron Works, corner of Water and Lagrange streets, es- 
tablished by a joint stock company in 1859, of which Messrs. Russell & Ttiayer, 
the present owners, v.*ere then prominent stock-holders, maybe considered the 
pioneer enterprise in the iron manufacture of Toledo. Duiing the fir.-t year 
the works produced a value of ^ 33,':00 and employed 30 hands. They last year 
made sales amounting to over $«s5,00n, and gave employment to an avei-age ot 
about 50 hands. These works handled last year over one thousand tons of 
iron, and, notwithstanding a damage by fire, which occurred in September, 
1873. the amount will be considerably increased this year. 

The senior member of this firm, Mr. Russell, commenced manufacturing in 
Auburn, N. Y., in 1835. In 1 855-56, as one of a joint stock company, he was 
engaged in the establishment of the first rolling mill for the manuiacture of 
railroad iron in Cleveland. The multiplication of these works has since be- 
come one of the chief sources of the industrial wealth of that city. Since 1859, 
ihe date ot his residence in Toledo, he has been active in efforts to establish, 
on solid foundations, this important element of the present and future wealth 
of Toledo. As the Cleveland Rolling Mill was, to a Lirge extent, the nucleus of 
the now powerful iron manufacturing interest in that growing ciij% so the 
Novelty Works in Toledo may be regarded as the origin of the same substan- 
tial source of wealth in the city in which they are established ; and what Peter 
Hayden has accomplished for Columbus, Messrs. Russell & Thayer may succeed 
in working out for Toledo. 

lAme, Land Plaster, rf;c.— Newman & Ford produce annually of these 
materials a value amounting to Sif;91,500, and employ 40 hands. 

T^MmS^T.— Statistics place Toledo at the head of the list of hard wood lum- 
ber markets in the world. In iheyear 1«72, according to the report ot Mr. 
Wale.s, there was received by railroad, lake and canal at Toledo, ]«9,069,71(i 
feet, and manufactured at Toledo 22,250,000 feet, mafdng a total of kill, 319,- 
71G feet, much of which was hardwood limber and lumber, and principally ex- 
ported to Europe. Relcring to the Board of Trade report, it also appears that A. 



638 Toledo — Manufactures and other Industries. 



Andrews. Jr., & Co., control to a larger d?gree than any othfr one firm this im- 
portant Interest, The business success ol ibis gentleman has been so note- 
worthy as to deserve brief mention. Reaching 1'oledo seven years ago, young 
and liiondless, with less than one hundred dollars in cash, his sagacious mind 
fully grasped the advantages and importance of this trade, and the result is 
in the above statement, and will stand as an illustration of the power 
of integrity and sagacity in achieving business success. 

Opera House. — Among the valuable public buildings erected la Toledo 
within the last two years, none, perhaps, was more imperatively demanded by 
the public taste and more highly appreciated h\ the citizens, than the Opera 
House constructed by the htirs of the late Mr. L. Wheeler, prominent among 
them, and efficient in the prosecution of the work, being Mr. Louis Wachen- 
heimer. It is an imposing stone structure, situated on the corner of Monroe 
and St. Clair streets. The first floor is divided into a banking office and 
stores, all of which are large and convenient!}' arranged, adapted for either the 
retail or jobbing trade. All the space above the first floor is occupied for the 
opera bouse. The entire building was constructed airaost without regard to 
cost, and the theatre, therefore, is one of the most perfect, as well as one ot the 
most beautiful in the country. Careful attention was given to all the detaiis 
of the block, and it is one of ihe most important, as well as the most espcnsivf^ 
building improvements in Toledo. 

MouldUifjs. — Osborn, Chase & Swayne arc proprietors of an establishmeni 
manufacturing black walnut mouldiugs that give employment to about 100 
hands, and turn out a yearly value reaching $130,000. 

Oil. — The establishment of Barney & Taylor, just erected, produces, daily, 
1,400 g .lions of linseed oil, and 30,000 lbs. of oil cake. It is probably tiie largest 
establishment west of Pittsburg. 

Pumps. — The Toledo Pump Company employ an average of 35 hands during 
the year, and the value of sales amount to $80,000. 

Bercl Estate Agencies. — With the rapid advance of Toledo in poi)ulation and 
wealth, the real estate agencies have assumed importance. Twenty-two offices 
were devoted to the business during the year 18T3 ; and all these are controlled 
by men of high character and influence. One whose operations have been at- 
tended with success so marked, and whose field has been almost co-extensive 
with the countiy, is that of Henry J. Raffensperger, Esq. An evidence of his 
appreciation abroad as well as at home, is furnished in the Chicago Land 
Owner for June, 1871 — a publication which is accepted authority with regard 
to real estate matters throughout the country. Under the head of " Our Lead- 
ing Men " — Henry J. Raffenspergei", Esq,,"— Mr. Wing, the editor, makes this 
statement : 

" Once in a decade the financial world is astonished by the flashing athwart 
their horizon of a rocket of brilliant capabilities, who carries Wall street by 
storm, runs the stocks up and down at his august pleasure, and accumulates 
millions, while other men are at work zealously for the thousands. His word 
or look is the decree of fate in the gold room or on the Bourse. He becomes a 
king in his sphere, and dictates terms right and left. His great success is won- 
dered at, scoffed at perhaps, yet admired even by his enemies. 

"Between such men and Henry J. Raffensperger, Esq., the subject of this 
sketch, and the accompauing portrait, there may be drawn a parallel. The 
real estate world has lately been convulsed by his brilliant operations, and the 
success which has attended his schemes. 

" In 1864, Mr. Raffensperger went to Toledo, Ohio, and engaged in the real 
estate business in that rapidlv growing city. He went to work with an energy 
and perseverance that couldf not fail at length of meeting their reward. For 
eighteen months he worked silently, learning the value of property in different 
parts ot the city, studying the direction in which the city would naturally grow, 



Toledo — ManKfactares and other Industries. 639 



and where investments -would be most profitable, and in varions ways laying 
broad and deep tbe loundation of a large business. From the very first day 
that he was known as a real estate broker, he was popular in that capacity. 
His indomitable perseverence and strict attention to business, made those who 
wished either to buy or sell, tlel perfect confidence in his management of their 
affairs, and ihey never had reason to regret that confidence. His genial man- 
ners made him" hosts of Mends-, and his sterling integrity in every business trans- 
action retained them. 

" From a small beginning, Mr, Riffensperger constantly increased, but he felt 
anibiiious to do something on a larger scale than anj'thing he had yet engaged 
in. Accordingly, in the fall of 1870, he announced a grand auction sale of the 
lots in T. P, JBrown's subdivision, of Toledo. This property was located at 
some distance from the city. It was laid cut in lots, and a horse railroad built 
to the place, and put in operation. The property was then advertised exten- 
sively, in every legitimate way. When the day came it proved that Mr. Raf- 
fenspcTger had not miscalculated, or anticipated too much. The $2,000 in- 
vested in advertising had been well expended — the sale was a success beyond 
all precedent. From far and near buyers flocked to the spot, tiie emhusiasm 
was imboundcd, and lots to the number of four hundred and sixty five were 
sold. 

" The success attending this sale, led to other great auctions of city lots a few 
weeks after, and in distant cities, and attended with the same I'esults. Over 
halt a million ot dollars worth of property was sold during a two days' sale in 
Toledo. The skill displayed in managing these large and important sales, won 
the encomiums of the press in all quarters. 

" Toledo is certainly very much indebted to him for what he has done in mak- 
ins her advantages known to outsiders, and in influencing many persons to 
make their homethere. \S e are pleased to be able to add that the pecuniary 
results to himself, of his labors, have been satisfactory, and that he has acquired 
a handsome amount of property during the few vears of his residence in 
Toledo." 

Mr. Raffensperger's later achievements were made at Columbus, Ohio, Utica, 
N. Y., Olathe, Kansas, — and tor the year 1873, if morally possible to meet the 
demands upon him, his operations will extend from New York city to 
Denver. 

8air,s. — Two establishments manufacture, employing a force of twenty -five 
hands, and turning out a yearly value of $40,000. 

Soap and, Candle WorM. — Two establishments are engaged in the niinufac- 
ture of soap and candles, and emplov ten hands. Annual value of sales, 
$;i8,o00. 

The establishment of John Hoffman, commencing on a small scale in 1849. 
now emplo3's six hands, and produces an annual value of ^28,150. His factory 
and office are now located on tbe corner of Fifteenth and Lucas streets. The 
cnpacity of this house is equal to the production of $r)0,iiOO per annum, 
Tlie establishment, since its removal from its old quarters on Monroe street, to 
its present location, has added largely to its business facilities. 

Steam Engines, Iron and Brass Castings. — In these lines of manufacture, 
there are four establishments, which employ an aggregate force of 300 hands, 
and, in manufacture and repairs, turn out annually a value of $420,000, 

Tobacco. — During the year 1870 four establishments reported that they had 
manufactured of chewing tobacco, 1,026,721 lbs., and of smoking, 1,979,803 
lbs., making a total of 3,006,527 lbs. The increase since that year has been very 
lartre. 

Within the last twenty years, Toledo fine cut tobacco has occupied a high 
place in the markets of the country, and it yet maintains that rank. 

To no one is the city as much indebted for the establishment of the reputa- 
tion its fine cut tobacco has attained, as to Mr. C. Bronson, the pioneer in the 



640 . Toledo — Manufactures and other Industries. 



business, who commenced his manufacture about 1851. His capital originallj- 
amounted to only a few thousand dollars; but by starting- out with tlie pur- 
chase of the best stock in market, and the employment of the best skill iu its 
manufacture, his trade within a few years increased to an immense amount, 
and he retired from the business January 1, 186f;, and Charles R. MeSsiuyer Is 
now hi<» successor, producing the same brands tbat secured the popularity 
for the Bronson tobacco. Mr. Messinger's tobacco now finds a ready market 
in all the principal cities iu the country. Within the last year his increasing 
business has required the erection of a new and splendid block, consisting of 
live floors, corner of Summit and Linn, and esiending from the foi'mer to 
Water street. 

The Toledo Tobacco Works of Witker, Halsted & Co., established January, 
1869. have contributed much in adding to the success of Toledo brand-*, and iu 
superseding manufacturers of otlier cities in markets where the best quality of 
tiue cut chewing tobacco is in special d<^mand. As between chewing and 
smoking tobacco, they produce a larger per cent, of the former than any house 
in the trade. Their gi^ods find their way to the principal cities in the Union, 
and an e-timate of the increase of their busiuess may be formed, when it is 
stated that notwithstanding the interruption caused by the destructive fire of 
last year, their sales will be double that of the year preceding. Daring the 
first year ot the organization of the firm, they employed 25 hands, and now 
give employment to an average force of 75. Since the fire mentioned they 
have temporarily occupied buildings on St. Clair strtet, near Swan Creek 
bridge, but will soon erect a large brick, as near fire proof as pos,sil)le, on 
Ottawa street, opposite the Dayton and Michigan freight depot. 

Winef^. — The last twenty-five years have demonstratated that the islands at 
the head of Lake Erie are better adapted to the production of grapes for 
wines, than the countries adjoining the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers. The late Nicholas Longworth, of Cincinnati, was the first to in- 
troduce the culture of the Catawba in the Mississippi Valley, and to manufacture 
brands of still and sparkling wines tliat achieved a high reputation throughout 
the country. Of late years, however, it has been ascertained that the wines 
produced on the islands at the head of Lake Erie, in Ohio, are much 
superior to those from the vineyards iu the neighborhood of Cincinnati, from 
which Mr. Longwoith derived his supplies, tor the manufacture of his once 
celebrated brands. One establishment, (Lenk & Co's.,) near Toledo, has entirely 
over-thadowed the pioneer work of Mr. Longworth — producing, the last year, 
'200,000 gallons from grapes grown on the islands. This tirm of Lenk & Co., 
have hitherto only produced still wines, bnt arrangements have been perfected 
by which, in future, they will manufacture both still and sparkling, at tbeir 
establishment near Tremainville, adjoining the city limits of Toledo. Several 
of their casks are the largest in the United States — holding 8,300 gallons, and 
each valued at $1,000. It has also been demonstrated that the Catawba grape 
has never attained any degree of perfection except on the islands named — a 
fact that requires no more conclusive evidence for its establishment than the 
simple statement that the great houses of Bogen & Son and M. Work 
& Sons, Cincinnati, and the American Wine Co., St. Louis, purchase the 
grapes, from wh'Ch their best brands are made, from the island vineyards. At 
the Cincinnati Exposition of 1873, E. T. Mortimer, proprietor of the Bayview 
vineyard, Put-in-Bay, received the first prizes of two silver medals for the best 
t)rands o£ wines manufactured from Catawba and Delaware grapes. 



Added to those enumerated, there are two manufacturers of awnings ; fifteen 
bakers ; two of baking powders ; three of barrels, staves and headings ; six ot 
l>eut works ; three of bird cages ; one of bitters ; one of blacking ; twenty- 
eight blacksmith shops ; six blank book manufacturers and three book 
binders; four boat builders ; three boiler makers; six box manufacturers; six 
brickyards; two bridge builders ; nine builders and contractors; four cabinet 



Toledo — Mercantile Businena. 641 



manufiicturers; one railroad car wheel manufactory ; six carpet weavers ; five 
carriage shops, in addition to the Toledo Wheel Company; four children's 
carriage shops; three chair factories; one coffee and spice factory; two ol 
cornices; one distillery; forty -nine dress-makers; seven furniture manufac- 
tories ; one of iron railings ; two of lime ; one map publisher, (John B. Mars- 
ton ;) nine machine shops ; one perfumery manufactory ; one pocket book 
mauufaclory; two plow manufactories; one of pumps and tubing; one of 
rakes; seven of sash, doors and blinds; thirty of shoes; one sorghum mill; 
one manufacturer ot spring bed bottoms ; four of steam engines ; two of trunks ; 
three of vinegar ; fourteen of wagons ; one of wooden ware and one ot 
yeast. 
In ship building, there is employed an average force of 235 hands. 



COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF MERCANTILE BUSINESS. 

Almost simultaneous with the opening of business in Toledo, merchants 
oflered their goods at wholesale, as well as at retail. There then being no arti- 
ficial means of transportation— no canals, railways, McAdamized, plank, or 
even graded and turnpike roads, by which interior towns could be reached, it 
may be inferred that '' the wholesale department" was confined to narrow lim- 
its, and supplied only a few river and lake shore places, and others which could 
only be, with much difficulty and expense, reached when the surface was made 
solid by the action of winter temperature. 

The stocks of those oA merchants embraced all lines of goods. A stranger 
in Toledo, seeking the purchase of a pair of boots, would be referred to estab- 
lishments where he would also probably find dry goods, saddlery, groceries, 
crockery, hardware, notions, cigars, patent medicines, liquors, peltries, ready- 
made clothing, tobacco, Indian goods, etc., etc. He would discover a "gen- 
eral assortment." The contents of any of these old stores, however, would 
not invoice as much as any average retail dealer now engaged in a single line 
of goods in Toledo. 

The first store was opened by Lewis Godard, in the Vistula division, in 
1831. The first wholesale firm, of considerable prominence, was established 
by Titus & C'o., in 1837, in the building then standing upon the ground now 
occupied by the Novelty Iron works, on Water street. It was then a ware 
liouse, — the lower story being used by Poag & Morse, for their commission und 
forwarding business, and Titus & Co. occupying the second floor for their 
wholesale trade, — their principal clerk beiug the late Gideon W. Weed. Titus 
& Co. also conducted a retail branch house on the corner of Locust and Sum- 
mit streets. 

In the year 1839, V. H. Ketcham opened a wholesale establishment, having 
conducted, during the previous three years, a retail business most of the time, 
in partnership with Levi Snell — the firm name being Ketcham & Snell. The 
last named gentleman (Mr. Snell), in 1835, had opened a merchant tailoring 
establishment, and continued this business until 183G, when he entered 
the partnership just mentioned. From 1839, Mr. Ketcham remained in the 
jobbing and retail trade, having, in 1843, taken his clerk, Joseph K. Secor, as a 
"partner, and, in 1854, transterred the stock and business of the firm of Ketch- 
am & Co., to Secor, Berdan & Co. 

The next house of considerable dimensions, and devoted exclusively to the 
wholesale of groceries, was that of Charles O'Hara, in Mott's block, estab- 
lished in 1843. 

During this year, also, D. Swift & Co. (the junior partner being T. H. 
Hough), opened a large establishment in the same block, embracing diversified 
lines of goods— the business name being successively changed to T. H. Hough, 
T. H. Hough & Co., Hough &: Hall, and finally to T. H. Hough & Co. (the 

40 



G42 Toledo — Mercantile Business. 



junior member of the last mentioned firm having been Mr. W. H. Buckman). 
Mr. Hough died in Connecticut, in October, 1872. 

Alexander Ralston & Co. started the drug business in the spring of 1844, in 
Mott'a block, corner of Monroe and Summit streets, doing considerable job- 
bing. Ralston sold out to his partner, S. Linsley, and continued the same line 
till his death, in 1853, when the firm became Charles West & Co., now West 
& Truax. 

Kraus & Rcemer were the fir&t clothing jobbers, or that followed that busi- 
ness exclusively. 

In 1853, Church, Hayes & Co. opened a large stock of general merchandise, 
which they offered at wholesale exclusively. 

The present house of Whitaker & Phillips was established 'in 1844, under 
the name of Kirkland & Whitaker. Since the decease of Mr. Hough. Mr. 
Whitaker holds the rank of the senior wholesale merchant in Toledo. 

The firm ot Bell & Deveau, which commenced business under the auspices 
of New York parties, October 1, 1847, was "an event" in the business history 
of Toledo. Its trade was strictly confined to jobbing, and sales the first year 
ran up to $55,000 — a sum total then regarded as immense. The lines embrac- 
ed dry goods, notions, groceries, crockerj^, leather, nails, glass, etc. Their pur- 
chases were made in October, for the winter and spring trade, and designed to 
be sufficient in amount to meet the demands of their customers until the open- 
ing of the following navigation season, transportation being then only by water. 

In 1853, the firm was changed to Bell, Deveau & Co. (the Co. being W. S. 
B. Hubbell). In 185K, Mr. Bolles became a partner, and the firm name was 
Bolles, Bell & Hubbell. In 1858, the stock was divided— Bell, Holcomb ct 
Co. retaining the groceries, and Mr. Bolles retiring with the dry goods. In 
1861, the grocery firm was Bell & Holcomb, and, in 1864, the laie firm of Bell 
& Emerson was formed. Mr. Bell retired from business in 1812. 

It was not until the spring of 1861, that Secor, Berdan & Co., the last of the 
jobbers who had been carrying a variety of stocks, separated their goods, and 
thenceforward confined their business to the wholesale of one line — and from 
this date the wholesale and retail trade assumed the form of distinct classifi- 
cation and branches. Near this date (1861), the trade of Toledo had attained 
something like metropolitan proportions, as well as arrangements; and, in his 
report of 1872, Mr. Wales, Secretary of the Board of Trade, estimated the 
business of the jobbing and commission houses, for the year 1871, at $76,- 
406,199.00. 

Taking a retrospect of the trade of Toledo, which commenced at a period 
when a vitiated and influted paper currency offered peculiar bounties to all 
schemes of reckless adventure, it may be truthfully stated that no town or 
city in the west can exhibit a fairer record, as regards general solvency, and 
honest commercial dealing. And it may be proper to add, that the most sub- 
stantial men in Toledo, now retired, or in active business, made their accumu- 
lations here. 

A view of the general business, in the summer of 1833, may be partly 
gathered from the advertisements which appeared in the Toledo Blade, dated 
June 29, 1836— that date closing the 25th No., 1st Vol., of the paper. 

Those who then ••- vertised merchandise, were Daniels & Goettel,W. J. Dan- 
iels & Co., and J. Baldwin & Co. 
Peckh im & Co. are the only forwjirders who advertise. 
Mosher & Scoville, one door west of the Mansion House, advertise drugs, 
medicines, and groceries. 
Dr. J(jhn W. Gilbert & Co. advertise botanic medicines. 
Among the early merchants, also, were Dr. Jacob Clark, who opened a store 
in 1835 ; A. Kraemer, corner Summit and Elm, opposite the old American ; and, 
about 1837, Ezra S. and William Dodd. 

The mercaulile business in Toledo, wholesale and retail, is now, as it has 
been heretofore, as a rule, in the hands of men who have promptl}"- met their 



Toledo — Mercantile Business. 643 



obligations. This maintenance of faith, and scrupulous regard for just claimn, 
on the part of merchants, bankers, manufacturers, etc., is a matter of just pride 
to all interested in the present and future of Toledo. 
A few of the prominent houses are here briefly mentioned : 

Agricultural Machinex, Implements, dx. — Three establishments deal in these 
lines ot goods, and make annual sales amounting to $160,000. The oldest and 
largesi house now engaged in the trade is conducted by P. T. Clarke & Sons. 

Books. — The first book store in Toledo was established by the late Decius 
Wadsworth. in 1844 ; and the character of his stock at that earlv day reached 
a high standard, creditable alike to him and to the tastes of the Toledo public. 
The four establishments now engaged in the trade average stocks that will 
compare favorably with those of any city. These stores make annual sales 
amounting to $80,000. During Mr. Wadsworth 's time, when he controlled the 
whole trade, his annual sales did not average $8,000. 

Boots and Shoes.— Four wholesale houses in 1870 reported sales amounting 
to $1,387,435. Add to this about 35 per cent, for the current year, and it will 
afford an approximation of the true amount. Of the sales in 1870, one-third 
were from the house of R. & J. Cummings & Co. Their present year's busi- 
ness will probably reach fully a million and a half. The house was established 
in 1858 — the firm then being O. S. Bond & Co., and its wholesale business at 
that time not reaching the amount of many retail dealers now in the trade. 
The rapid growth of this house, from comparativelj' small beginnings, is an 
evidence of the advances now making in all the jobbing branches in Toledo. 
The house of Fuller, Childs & Co., of which Dr. S. S. Stambaugh is the "Co.," is 
also one of importance in the trade, as are also those of Burgert & Hart, and 
Wright, Taylor & Croninger. 

In the retail trade in boots and shoes, of the twentj^-nine establishments 
engaged in it, the oldest and most prominent house, and controlling a trade 
peculiar to itself, is owned by Wachter Bros., whose business places are 149 
Summit street, (where a boot and shoe store has existed over 20 years, and 
_ now the ninth year in the hands of its present occupants,) and 230 St. Clair 
street, the latter branch having been recently opened. The peculiarity of 
their relation to the trade exists in the rpputation they have achieved for 
handling fine goods — having obtained from Edwin C. Burt, the New York 
manufacturervwho received the prizes at the "Exposition Universelle," Paris, 
1867, of the silver medal for his work, the agency for the exclusive sale of his 
goods in Toledo. This circumstance alone secures to Wachter Bros, not only 
the choicest home trade, but commands orders from those who appreciate the 
style and quality of Burt's goods, from a distance. The sales at their two 
establishments during the past year reached nearly $80,000. 

Carpetings, House Furnishing Goods, &c. — A sketch of the history of the 
old firm, established in 1843, under the name of D. Swift & Co., and closing 
with the name of T. H. Hough & Co., in consequence of the decease of the 
senior partner in October, 187;i, has already been given. After the death ot 
Mr. Hough, the junior and surviving partner of the firm, Mr. Buckman, opened 
negotiations with Hon. A. P. Edgerton, at Fort Wayne, which resulted finally 
in the re-organizatlon of the present house, known as W. H. Bickman & Co. 
Under the auspices of a name so potential in business circles in all the centres 
of trade in this country as that of Mr. Edgerton, and sustained by lum, the new 
hou-^e of W. H. Buckman & Co. is destined probably, for j'cars to come, to ex- 
ercise a controlling influence in the sales of the above lines of goods. 

Clothing. — In addition to the wholesale establishment mentioned, there are 
fifteen houses engaged in sales of ready made clothing; and most ot these 
manufacture. Wm. Mabley, 153 Summt street, is probably the most ex- 
tensive dealer, being one of four brothers who have heavy stocks at Chicago, 
Cleveland, Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, Jackson and Battle Creek, and whose sales 



G44 Toledo — Mercantile J^usiness. 



reach about $1,500,000 annually. The Toledo house last year reached about 
190,001), and the current year will exceed $150,000. Their business being upon 
such an enlarged basi?, they have unusual advantages in purchases, resulting 
ia benefit to their customers. 

Dry Goods— Eetail— Twenty -one stores are engaged in this trade, whose ag- 
gregate sales amount to $835,000 

Drug Stores. — la addition to Ihe two wholesale, there are twenty-nine retail 
establisunitnis engaged in the sale of drugs and medicines. As will be noticed 
by a stalemtiit ot iMr. Molt, the one now conducted by Thomas Vanstone, suc- 
cessor to Wtst \fc Vun>-t(ine, is the oldest established house in the trade. 

Furs, Wool, Hides. Pelts, Flustering Hair, ttc— Four firms are engaged in these 
liiRh of iiiiue, !>ouie of iiKUi including leather, aiid in 1870 ihtir aggrt-gate 
SiiU-9 wtre rcixriL'il ai $9i2,105. baniutl Bro< ks, who di' d January 24, 1873, 
esltlL>li^hed the first hoiit-e lu the trade in 18i9. His successois art; his son, 
(Jhas. L. l-'rooks and VVui. H. Lewis, who couiiuue the busiuess under the firm 
nana- of Brooks & Li wis. Tlierecripts of hides in 1872 exceeded those of any 
pre\ ions ytai , amounting to 8,i71.7l5 lbs., and of wool to about 3,000,000 lb.«. 

Gioceriis. — lr7 h'uses arc engaged in the sale of family groceries, and their 
auiiua. irales I siiuuiud at fl.iiO ,000. 

Jeicelers. — Ut the eigLt jevveliy est iblishments in Toledo, most carry large 

StoCKf. 

'1 Le oldest ami m(st prominent, however, is owned by H. T. Cook & Co., 
the senior member ot which firm is also among the oldest business m^n in 
Tolido. The stock of this firm is one of the largest and m< st varied that can 
be found in any jewelry establishment in the State, and carri* s a larger value in 
goods than the aggregate of all the other jewelry establishments in Tolt do. 

LlquO'S, Win<s, dc—Eleven establishments were engaged in this trade in 
18?" ai d acco c.iiig to the returns made to the U. S. Assessor's office, rectified 
4;j78ljbls. Alcoljol and Spirits of Wiue, although generall.\ considered the 
same, are maleiially ilifterent. Alcohol is whiskey, distilled to its highe^t grade 
of pi oof, and is imploded in the mechanic arts, as the basis of essences and 
nu-dital dnctures. and as a solvent iu various manufacturing ( perations. Neu- 
tral or Cologne Spiri;, is the same article in point of strength, but divested, in 
its manufacture, of all empyreumatic odor and taste. It forms the basis of do- 
mestic brandies, gins, &e. 

lu the busint ss ot lectifying, the firm of R Brand & Co., 36 Monroe St., oc- 
cupy the from raidi, as well as having precedence in age. The house was es- 
tabfished in 1849. Of the 4,5.8 bbls. of Spirits rectified, in 1870. 1,U62 
weie produced by them. The Board of Trade report also exhibits their annual 
sales iu excess of all others engaged in the trade. This firm were the first to 
introduce and encourage the use of native wines, in this quarter of Ohio— and 
may, therefore, be cimsidered among the pioneers, in the native wine trade. 

For certain medical purposes, however, imported wines have been discovered 
to be indispensible; and hence, m 18G7, Hon. G. Marx, senior member of the 
firm, visited Spain, France, Germany and Hungary, and perfected arrange- 
ments tor direct importations from the best vine-growing districts^ in those 
countries ; and yet continue, as the cu.stom house books show\ larger importers 
thau any house in Chicago, St. Louis, Ciucinnati, or in any city west of the 
Atlantic coast. They rtceive direct consignments from Barcelona, Valencia, 
Malaga, Cadiz, Xeres de la Frontera (in Spain,) Cettes, and Nimes and Bordeaux 
in France. 

Thio was also the first Toledo jobbing house that engaged in the Lake Supe- 
rior trade, to which region tliev last year shipped goods amounting to 
$35,0(10. 

In this line of goods, M. & C. O'Brien & Co., L. A. Fontaine & Co., M. H. 
Austin & Co., Foster V. Wilder, Melchers & Lohmann, M. Boos & Son, and 
several others, are also extensive wholesale dealers. 



Toledo— Some of its Business Men m 18*73. 645 



Saddlery Hardware, Trimmings, <fcr.— Three firms are engaged in this im- 
portant branch of the wholesale trade— the sales in 1873 amounting to $335,- 
857 ; and the business is increasing. 

Settling Machines. — Twelve ol" these inventions arc represented in the city, 
and making annual sales reaching fully $500,01)0. 

Teas. — The conclusion is not irrational that the great depot of the China tea 
trade will find its centre in some of the interior cities of this continent. The 
opening of railway lines to the Pacific, and from that coast direct steam com- 
munication with China and Japan, will end controversy. Toledo, in addition 
to several wholesale grocery establishments, dealing in teas, has two houses 
almost exclusively devoted to this trade. 

Messrs. Ogle Brothers, Campbell Block, corner of St. Clair and Jefl'erson 
streets, are engaged extensively in jobbing and retailing teas and coffees, and 
make shipments of their goods to many of the prominent lake and canal ports, 
as well as to cities and towns along the railway lines that lead from Toledo. 

In addition to those above mentioned, there are the following : three china, 
glass and ciueensware stores ; four wholesale and twenty-one retail dry goods 
stores; six wholesale fancy goods stores; twenty-five flour and feed stores; 
six jobbers in foreign fruits: in men and women's furnishing goods, thero 
are twenty-three dealers and twelve in household furniture; four in general 
merchandise; seven in glass; six in hair goods; four in baled hay; eleven in 
hides, pelfs and wool; two in hops; four in lath and shingles ; five (whole- 
sale) in leather and findings; twenty-three in lumber; f.mr in wholesile. and 
thirty-(me in retail millinery goods ; seven in music d instruments; seven in 
paints, oils and glass, and two in woo 1 and willow ware. 



The following is a list of some of the prominent and representative 
men in Toledo, in 1873, with the character of business annexed to 
their several names, which list comprehends those who, at this time, 
chiefly control the Commission, Banking, Manufacturing, and other 
leading interests in the city. It is a matter of regret that time was 
not afforded to make the list iTiore comn.ete. 



A. ANDREWS. .Tr . Ltimber. 

AM(<;R can farm JOURNVL. -Monthly 
—Locke & J ne3, Piiblisht;rs Wm H. 
Bi'SBEY, Kflitiir. 

CLARK AT'CHvRD. Real Estate A>cnt; 
Offlfo,2Anderson 8 Block, over 131 S.un- 
ini' stree' 

A. T KABB.TT & CO. Wholesale Dna'crs iu 
Hats and Caps, and Men"" Purnishing 
(ioods, l"2(i a d laS Sum 'lit street. 

H. E. BAN (4S, of the llrm of W. T Walker 
<S Co. CoitiTiission Merchants, lUi, 118 
and 1''' Water street 

L. S. BAUMGARD.\EK & CO. Importsis 
and ^\ holasale dealers in Notions, ilo- 
sicry r:nd Fancy Goods, 124 and Viii 
Summit (-treat. 

A. W. BARL'^W & CO . Wholesa'e and 
Retail * rockery, China and Ulassware, 
71 and 78 >ummit street. 

P. n. BrRCKIIEAi*. Dealer in Staves and 
Ilearti. gs.Water street, foDi ofLa.;rau^e 
Burtine s esiabli<''ed In I853. 

BISSKLL. GLR\-0N&C0 . .Attorne' s »t 
Law, and Re 1 E>laie Aijents. 1.5-2 Sum- 
mit f>tre(!t — Edw.^Ri) Bisseli,. Alfred 
W' . GL>fAsoN,JonN H. Doyle. Wkslky 
S. Thurstin, Ikwin I. Mjj.j,ard, aud 
JiiCHAKu M. McKee 



BLACK & nOFMAV, Manufacnrers of 
Ladies an 1 ( hildreii's Ut'darwear and 
Sai s; and Jobhu'^ of ilos'eo'. Fancy 
G 'Ods au I Nations -4 and ob Summit 
s rsjet. 

C. E. BLIVEN. Gener 1 Agent Howard 
InsurLince Oomoany, of Nev York — 
Oflice. KinsV Block, ^ater street 

E. C. B)DVIAN, President Nort.ieru Na- 
tional Bank. 

BOND & ALLEROICE D alers in Hides, 
Wc.l, Pelts. &c , ItJl a'ld I6i W.terst. 
TqoMAS E. Be I) Joseph Xi.lerdi e. 

BOWKS & II WELL, Tellers n Hides. 
Pelts. Furs, and Plastering Hair, 216 
aud H'l Water street. 

BRAUN & COL CON, General Insurance 
A'eiits, 33 M e.r >e str et. 

GHAItLES •>. BRIGHAM, Cief Operator 
Wist BN UnIov T L^GR pk. .Supeiiii- 
te^ident City Fire Alann Teleiinirh. and 
Agent VVestern As-"d Pre^-B Ruoui. 
4 Ch-i'nh' r of C rameree. 

ED. F. BROWNE .fc CO , Produce Commis- 
sion Merchants, 74 Water stiee . 

BRONSON TOBAC.O WORKS; ihas. R. 
Mti^siNGHR. I roprietor. Manufacturer 
of Fine Cut ChewiTig and Smoking 
Tobacco, 2T2 aud S74 Summit street. 



(346 loledv — Some of its Business Men in ls73. 



BROOKS & L"^WIS, Denlera in Hides. 
Wool, Sheepskins. Purs. &c . 112 and 
114 Siiperinr street. Market Space. 

T. I'. BROWN. Real Estate Dealer, and 
'.general Firo Insiiranee Agent, 52 Sum- 
mit strei't. 

BROWN & DODGE. Insurance As;pnt3, ln4 
Summit street.— E. O. Brown, F. B. 

I>ODOE. 

BROWN & FAUNCE, Wholesale and Retail 
Booksellers and Stationers, 115 Summit 

MATTHEW BROWN, firm of Brown & 
Sinclair, Commission Merchants. 112 
Wstor strGtJt 

BURNAP & LeBARON, Importers and 
Wholesale Deali^rs in Crot:kerv. China 
and F int Glassware, Lamps, Carbon 
Oil. Tahle Cuttlery. and Silver-Plated 
Ware, 96 Simmit and 51 Water streets. 
Sam'l L. Bhhv \r, DeLoss C. LeBaron. 
Li'CM'S LiLi.KY. Special 

JAMES H. CAMPBELL, Dealer in Real 
Estate, Campbell's Block. 

CARRINGT(.'N & CASEY, Commission 
Merchants, Water street 

JOHN B. CARSON, General Freight Agent 
T , W. & W. Railway. 

CHESNEY & CARSON, 83 Sntnmit street. 
Dealers in Crockery, Glass and -China, 
Gas Fixture-, &c. 

P. T. CLARKE & SONS, Wholesale and 
Retail Dealers in Farm Machinery. 
SeedSj Hardware and English ana 
American Garden Tools, Contractors' 
Supplies, ifcc, 250 ind 252 Summit St — 
P. T. Clarke. Sylvania, A.H. & \V. R. 
Clarke, Toltdo. 

J. COPLAND & SON, Lumber De.ilers and 
Manufacturers, cor. Oak & Water sts. 

A; W. COLTO'^, Commission Merchant, 
foot of Jefferson street. 

T. M. COOK. Real Estate Agent and 
Dealer. Resi'uMice. Cook's Block. Of- 
fice, 152 Summit street, 

A. W. COLTON, Commission Merchant, 
foot of Jefferson street. 

J. CROWELL & CO., Fish Dealers, Water 
strGct 

CYRUS H. COY, Arm of Banking House 
of C. H. Coy & Co., Chamber of Com- 
meice Building, 140 Summit street. 

CRAY & ROOD. Wholesale Carriage and 
Saddlery Hardware, 32 & 34 Summit st 

R. & J. CUMMINGS, Wholesale Boots. 
Shoes and Rubbers, 120 and 122 Summit 
street. —Robert & John Cumminiis, 
,ind J. H. AiNswouTH. 

DAILY AND WEEKLY EXPRESS, estab- 
lished Januar\' Ist. 18.53 — Julius 
VoRDTRiEDE, Editor; Joseph Bender, 
Publisher. 

GEO. W. DAVIS, Pres't Second Nat'l Bank 

F. EATON, (f-stablished in 1857.) Wholesale 
and Retail Dry Goods, Carpets, &c.. 
Summit street" 

GEORGE EMERSOV, of the firm of Emer- 
son & Co., Wholesale Grocers, 142, 144 
and 14(5 Summit street. 

FINLAY & KLEJIM. Brewers of Ale and 
Porter, and Dealers in Malt and Hops, 
Corner of Elm and Water street. 

E. H. FITCH. Attorney at law. and Dea'er 
in Real Estate, Corner of Summit and 
Jeffersiin streets. 

L.A. FONTAINE & CO., Agents for 'Lenk 



Wine Company's "' Native Wines ; also. 
Importers and Wholesole Dealers in 
ForeiL'n Wines and Liijuors, 176 Sum- 
mit street. 

FULLER, CHILDS A CO , Manufacturers 
and v\'holesale Dealers in Boots and 
Shoes 100 Summit street. — J. W. Ful- 
ler. T W. Childs, S. S. SrAMB\rGH. 

C. GERBER & CO., Wholesale Hardware, 
128 Summit, and 83 Water street 

GERMAN LABORERS' LOAN AND SAV- 
INGS Association receives deposits, on 
which it pays six per cent, interest — 
Frkd, (trauolph, Pres. J. P. Schuck, 
Sec. and Treas. 

BENJ. W^ (iO()DE,firm of Crabbs, Goode 
& Co., G'ain Couimis-ion Merchants, 1 
B lard of Trade 

F. GRADOLPH & BRO., Wholesale and 
Retail Ccn'ectioners, and Dealers in 
Fruits, Wines and Cigars, 85 Summit 

GREAT WESTERN DESPATCH COM- 
PANY & South Shore Friiioht Line, 
23 Madison street —-.J. C Morse, Ag't . 

CHARLES. P GRIFFIN, Real Est te and 
Insurance, 30 and 31 Chamber of Com- 
merce . 

W. W GRIFFITH, President Merchants" 
National Bank. 

GURL'Y, COLLINS & CO., Dealers in 
Hides, and Manufacturers of Rough 
Leather, 131 and 133 W^ater street 

ISAAC N. HATHAWAY & SOV, Commis- 
sion Merchants, comer Jefferson and 
AVater streets 

H.J. HAYES & CO , Pi oduce Commission 
Merchant--, 82 Water street. — H. J. 
Hayfs, Jo-eph Kiningfr. 

HERRHAN BROTH R:RS, Wholesale Dealers 
in Mi linery. Silks and Straw Goods, 72 
Summit street. 

HITCHCOCK & WALBRIDGE, Manufac- 
turers Sash, Doors, Blinds and Mould- 
ings. 

N. M.HOWARD, of firm of N M. Howard 
& Co., Commission Merchants, Water 
street 

F. HUBBARD & CO., Leather. Findings, 
Hides and Wool, 66 Summit street. 

WM. M. JOHNSON, Bouts and Shoes, 203 
Sumrcit sireet. 

KEELER & LYMAN, Planing Mill ; Dealers 
in Dressed Lumber. Water street. — 
Treo. Keeler, H. C. Lyman. 

KELLEY BROS.. Real JCstate Dealers, No. 
11 Chamber of Commerce. — James 
Kelley. Dr VVm. I. Kelley. 

KELSEY, LAWTON & CO.. Wholesale 
Dealers in Lumber, Shingles and Lath, 
St. Clair St 

V. H. KE PCHAM, Pres'r First Nat 1 Bank. 

J. B. KETCHAM, of firm of Ketcham, 
Bond & Co . Wholesale Grocers, 36 and 
38 Summit Street. 

C. A. KING & CO., Commission Mer- 
chants, and proprietors of King's Ware- 
h )use and Elevators. 

J. KININGER, of firm of H. J. Hates 
& Co., Commission Merchants, Water 

KRAUS & SMITH, Bankers, Chamber of 

Commerce Building. 
LENK WINE COMPANY, Manufacturers 

of Still and Sparkling Native Whines. 

Directors .•—Carl I<enk, Louis Wach- 



Toledo—Some of its J>usmeS8 Men in 1873. H47 



ENHEIMER, F. GtiA DOLPH. I'ETER LeKK 

and Wit-LTAM Weiss. 

LOCKE'S NATK (NAL MONTHLY M AGA- 
ziNE Locke & Jones. Publisher-' : 
D. K. LocKK, and Wm. 11. Busbey, 
Editors. 

H. P. L. MA CHEN, JR.. Real Estate 
Agent and Dealer Room 9 Gradolph 
Bl ck, comer Summit and Jefferson 
streets 

WM. nABLEY, Wholesale and Retail Dealer 
in ReadvMade Clothing, Gentlemen's 
Fu nishing Goods, Hats and Caps, )53 
l!*nmmit street. 

MAOuMBER, MOORE & McDONNELL, 
Real Estate, 4S Summit street. 

ARNOLD McMAHAN, Dealer in Real 
Estate, East Side. 

MARKSCriEFFEL & BRO., Wholesale 
Grocers, Importers and Commi8si<<n 
Merchants, and U holesale ea ers in 
Liquors, Winos and V\ hiskies, 41 Sum- 
mit street, and 2'.) and 31 Vlonrne stret't. 

J. B. MARSTON, Civil Engineer and Sur 
veyor, Publisher of Cfty and County 
Maps. Established l!^5y. Rooms 1 
and 2 Campbell's Block, corner St. Clair 
and Jefferson stietts. 

B. MEILINK & CO., Manufacturers, and 
Wholesale and Retail Di-alors in Fur- 
niture and Uphobtery. Sales-room and 
OfH e, 204 Summit street 

MILMINE & BODMAN, Forwarding and 
Commission Merchants, Water street. 
—Geo. Mii.min'e, E. C. Bodjfan. 

JAMES B. MONROE, General Agent Day- 
ton and Michigan Railway, Ottawa St. 

E. T. MORTIMER, Summit ttr ct, Man- 
ufacturer of the BMy-view brand of 
Naiive Wine8. Vint-yard and Manu- 
factory Put-in-Bay Island. 

RICHARD MOTT, Toledo. Ohio. 

L. E. MULPORl), Prescription Druggist, 
139 Summit street, corner Madison. 

J. I. NES8LE, General Purchasing Agent 
T., W. & W Railwav. 

NEWMAN & FORD, Alanufacturere of 
Genoa White Lime. Dealers in Land 
Plaster, Calcined Plaster, Cement, &c. 
Warehouse and Oflice, foot of Wash- 
ington street, on Swan Creek. 

F. L. NICHOLS, Real Esta e ; Office, Boody 

House. 

NORTH & OSWALD. Practical Portrait 
and Landscape Photographic Arti^^ts. 
All kin.'s of Pictures known to the 
Profession, executed in a saiisfactory 
manner an I in the latest styles. Studios, 
32 and 33 i 'hambe: of Commerce . 

OGLE BROS.,Proprietors Toled • Tea Store, 
46 .Tefferson. and lit) St. Clair street. 

PADDOCK BROS , Wholesale and Retail 
Dealers in Hats. Caps. P'urs and Straw 
Goods. Retail Store, 12h Summit; and 
Wholesale. 80 Summit street. 

J. R PAGE & CO., V/holesale Dealers in 
Window and Plate Glass, Paints, Oils, 
&c., &c.,S8, 90 and 92 St Clair street. 

WILLIAM PKTER, Toledo. Ohio, 

HENRY PhlLIPPS. Who'esale and Retail 
Dealer in Hardware in all its branches, 
54 and .^G Summit, and T and 9 Water st. 

C. B. PHILLIPS, of Whttaker, Phii xirs 

& Co., Wholesale Hardware, 102 Sum- 
mit and .59 Water street. 
M. W. PLAIN, firm of Plain, Williams 



& Co., Wholc-jale Drua:s and Liquor8. 
141 and 14-i St. Clair street. 

POE & BREED, Mauufacturos and L^enlcrs 
in Wood aU'i Willow Ware. ' ordage, 
ni'ushen. Fancy Ba kets. Children s 
Cabs, Carts, &c., 02 Summit, and lo 
Water street.— J. N'Ewro.v Poe, Wil- 
liam Breko 

GEO. E. POMEROY & SON, Real Estate 
A ents and Money Brokers, 108 Sum- 
iflit strGct 

PRi)UTV" &' ARBUCKLE, Agricultural 
Machinery and implements, 79 and Hi 
Monroe stiee' . 

H.J. RAFFENSPERGER, Dealer in Real 
Estate. Selling large tracts at Public 
Auction a specialty. Office. No. 1, 
Myers' Block, c r Summit and Monroe. 

RAYMER & SEAGRAVE. Bankers and 
Real Estate Dealers, and.Negotiators of 
Loans on rea' estate securities. Office, 
First Natl Bank Building, Summit st. 

GEO. RAYMOND, wirh E. C. Smith & Co., 
Commission Merchants, Wat.^r street. 

REED & HUBERS, W holesale and Retail 
Druggists, 91 Summit, cor. Jefferson ct. 

OTTO REIDEMlilSTER, Justice of the 
Peace, Notary Put)lic and Insurance 
Affont, 6 Link's Block. 

REYNOLDS BROS <omnii8-ion Merchants 
and proprietors Armada Flouring Mills. 

R. F. RUSSELL, firai of Russeil & 
Thaykk, Founders, and Proprietors of 
Novelty Iron Works. 

H. W. SA(iE & CO., Manufacturers of Pine 
Lumber and Lath; also, Dealers in 
Ha d-wood Lumber, 22 Frie street. 
Mill atWenona, Mich. Yards at Toledo, 
Buffalo, Albany, and Ni-w York. 

C. H. SAWYER & CO, Dealers in Lime, 
Cement blaster, and Sewer Pipe, 10 

S. C. SCHEmCK. Agent for Anthraci'e 
Coal Association, andDealeriu all kiuds 
of Coal; on Water St., between Walnut 
and Locust, and on Water, cor Adams 

JOSEi'H SnilOLL, Prescription Druggist. 

WM. H. SCHROEDER, Furnishing Under- 
taker, Sole Agent for I.e. Shules & 
Co , and American Burial Case Co. 
Office, 210 Summit street 

FRANK J. SCOTT, Real Estate, 11 Cham- 
ber of Commerce, 

W. H. SCOTT, Real Estate, 154 First Na- 
tional Bank Building. 

SCRIPTURE, BAS.sETT & CO , Cigar 
Manufacturers, corner Market Space 
and iMonroe street. 

SECOR, BERDAN & CO., Wholesale 
Giocers, 116 and 118 Summit street. 

SHAW & BALDWIN, Jobbers of Notions 
White Goods &c.,i.Oand 92 Summit St. 

W. W. SHERWOOD, CALVIN BARKER, 
& Wm. SjHaNs'ENBACH, Wholcsa e and 
Retail Dealers in Millinery, and Ladies' 
Furnishing Goods, 109 Summit street. 

WILLIAM SIEGEKSON & ■ o.. Dealers in 
Real Estate; on Commission and other- 
wise, 217 St. Clair St., Boody House. 

JOHN SINCLAIR, firm of Brown & Sin- 
clair, 112 V\ater street. 

L. M. SKID MORE & CO.. Hardwood Lum- 
ber and of the firm of Parsons, Skip- 
more & Co., Toledo Hamcs Manufac- 
turing Co. 



648 Toledo — Some ofits Ba.mies^ Men in 18*73. 



SMITH BEIDGK COMPANY. Bridge Buil- 
ders. R. W. Smith, Pres't, J. J. Swi- 
GART, Treaa., J. A. Hamilton, Sec'y, 
B. HowELi,. En.gr. Office, Chamber of 
Commerce Building. 

HENISON B. SMIMH,General Commission 
Merchant for the purchase of Grain, 
Flour, Provisions, &c. 

JONA. SMITH & CO., Brass Founders and 
Machinists, and Dealers in Metals. Ma- 
chinery and Tools, 81 & 83 St Clair st. 

SMITH, KELLEY & CO., Wholesale Deal- 
ers and Manufacturers of Lumber, Lath 
and Shingles, Lafavettc street. 

DAVID SMITH, W. H. SMITH, Manufac- 
turers of Dimension limber of all 
kinds. Water street 

SMITH & SIMMON.-<,Wholesale Dealers in 
Leather and Findings, Hides, Oils and 
Cu*^ricr's Tools. 70 Summit street— O.C. 
Smith, Wm. H. Simmons. 

ALEXANDER P STEWART, WHiolesale 
and Retail Dealer iu American, British, 
French atid German Dry Goods, 121 
Summit street. 

A. R SrONE & CO., Auctioneers and Com- 

mission Merchants, 199 Summit street. 
— W, C. Alexander. Auctio'^eer. 

ST. JOHN & BUCK. W'holcsale Dealers 
in Fnsh and ^altFish; Water, foot of 
Cherry street.— Wm. St. John, Plymp- 
TON Buck 

ST. JOHN & NORTON. Real Estate Deal- 
ers, corner Summit and Cherry streets, 
W^M. St John, .Iohn G Norton. 

SUNDAY MORNIiNGSUN,John A. Lant, 
Editor. 

B. G SWEET & CO.. Wholesale and Retail 

Dealers in all kinds of Coal. Iron, &c., 
comer Moi.rce and Water streets. 

AUvVU TUSB TAB KR, Agricultural Imple- 
ments, Machinery and Seeds. 140, )4i 
and 1 14 Superi r s^treet. 

L. T. THAYER, of the lirm of Russeli, 
& Tn.^yzij. Founders and Pr')prietor.'< 
of the Novi^lty Iron Works. Water ist. 

THE INDEX, F. E. Abbot, E'''tor. 

THORN BROTHERS & CO., Chair Manu- 
f cturers, Rrie street. 

TOLEDO BLADE— Daily, Weekly and Tri- 
week y, Locke & Jones, Publishers; 
D R. LocKK, Editor in Chief, E. A. 
Htggin*. Asiso iate Editor 

TOLEDO CHKMIC.^L WORKS; B F. 
Hoi.LisTKR, Presid^'Ut, H.C. Richards, 
Vice Presi .enf ; R C Sp"HN, Superin- 
tendent, L. E. Bassett, Secretary and 
Treasurer. 

TOLEDO MORVING COMMERCIAL. - 
Cl\rk Waggon kr. Editor in-Chief . 

TOLEDO ('r)MM'':iiCIAL Co , PublishelS. 

175 and 177 Summit street* Also issue 
Tri-vveeklv and VV\-ekly, 
TOLEDO DEMOCRAT: A. J. Bebout, 
Manager; E. S. Dodu, Isaac Ragey 
Eoitors; V J. Zahm, Supl. Printing 
Department. 



TOLEDO, SUNDAY JOURNAL, P. H. 

Bateson, Publisher. 

TREPANIER & COOPER. Wholesale and 
Retail Dealers in Foreign and Domestic 
Dry Goods, Notions, &c., 101 Summit 
street. 

UNION MANUFACTURING CO., CR. S. 
.) ANNEY,Pres't, and L F.Lyttle, Sec'y) 
.Manufacturers of Churns, Wash-boards, 
Boys' Carts, and Wagons, and Kitchen 
Wooden-ware. 

M, O. WAGGONER, Real Estate Agent, 
buys, sells, rents and pays taxes; also, 
sells Jerome Kidder's Galvanic Batter- . 
ies Office, Ki Madison street, Finlay's 
Buildintr. 

H. S. WALBRIDGE, Banker, 1 GO Summit 

WILLIAM T. WALKER, of firm of W. T. 
Walker & Co., Commiss on Merch- 
ants, lit), lis and 120 Water street. 

J. W. WALTERHOUSE, Wholesale and Re- 
tail Dealer iu Pine Lumber, Shingles 
anrl Lath ; Water street, between Adams 
and Oak. 

WE HID SEWING M.\rHIXE CO., Ware 
house •i'i'i, Summit street. Retail Depart- 
ment. Boody House A. E. Dickinson, 
Manager 

J H. WHITAKER. firm of Whitakkr, 
Phillips & Co , Hardware Dealers, 102 
Summit street. 

WHITAKER & FRENCH, Whoesale 
C .rriage and Sadalery Hardware, 104 
Summit street. 

WHITE & BR\ND, General Agent" and 
Deaie'siii Decker Bros.' an^l W. Knahe 
& C'l's Pianos, and Burdett Organs; 
Music Publishers, and Dealers in Amer- 
ican and Foreii/n Music, and Musical 
Merchandise of every description. 173 
Summit street. 

WILCOX BROTHERS, Ship Chandlers- 
Wholesale— 54 and G6 Water street. 

WILLIAMS & BOAKE, Maniifactur r of 
Chairs, 149 t" 15.t Water street. -Harry 
Williams. James H. Boake. 

WORTS & CO., Wholesale Bakers and 
v'onfectii'ner-, 305 St. Clair street — 
George Worts, Albert Kirk, Henry 
W. Bigklow. 

WRIGHT, TAYLOR & CO . Manufacturers 
and Wholesale Dealers in Boots .and. 
Shoes, 84 and 86 Summit street. 

Wi'MAN. GR".GG & (.0., Dealers in Hard 
and Soft Coal, Lime Cement, Plaster, 
and Fire Brie a and Clay, 48 Water St. 

VOUNG & BACKUS, Commission Mer 
chants, and owners of rt abash and 
Miami Canal Grain Elevators, Water 

CIIAS L. YOUNG, of "Sears & Hol- 
land Lumbek Co.," Manufacturers and 
W'holesale Dealers in Pine Lumber, 
Superior stri et at Swan Creek . 

SAMUr.L M. "XOUNG, President Toledo 
National Bank. 



OTHETl PIONEERS OF THE MA.UMEE VALLEY. 

Noah A. Whitney, who died in March, 1873, at the nge of 74 years, belonged 
to a family well known and highly respected by the early settlers of Toledo. 
His father, Noah Ashley Whitney, sen., (whose" family then consisted of his 
wife, four sons and two daughters,) in 1S24 entered at the United Stales Land 
Office, the E. half of S. W. Qr. of Sec. 26, \)o\v within Toledo, and at the 



Additional Pioneer >i of the Maumee Valley. 649 



juncUon of Adams street with Collingwood Aveuue. The names of the four 
sons were Noah A., Thomas P., Milton D., and Augustus H., of whom the 
second only now remains ; and the daughters were Mary Ann and Harriett, 
the latter being the wife of Sanford L Collins, Esq., and now living. In 1825, 
Noah A Whitnev\ Jr., entered a quarter section of land, now within the city 
limits, upon which he continued to reside until the day of his death. In an 
obituary notice the Toledo Commercial said : 

" Mr." Whitney had been a member of the Methodist church for 40 years, and 
probably more than any other one contributed, in labor and money, toward 
the aupi)ort of religious advantages. Mrs. Whitney was the first class-leader 
within the present bounds of Toledo, under the ministration of Elder Baugh- 
man, the pioneer Methodist preacher of this region, whose circuit included 
Fremont (then Lower Sandusky) and the entire country to Detroit, four weeks 
being required for his round. The deceased was among the oldest, if not the 
very oldest resident church member in Toledo, as he was the oldest continuous 
housekeeper in the same, all his lirst neighbors having preceded him to their 
last home. Mrs. Wliitney died in 1857, leaving no children." 

Mavor Brigh'-im immigrated "vith his family from Oneida county. New York, 
to Toledo, in May, 1835. Ho -ibored dilligently, and expended freely of time 
and money in organizing aiid establishing the Congregational church of 
Toledo, which now forms so important a part of the religious element of the 
city. Mr. Brigham, duri i ' his long residence in Toledo, has been not only 
active in sustaining the la'srests ot religion, but has held several public posi- 
tions in the township and city governments, the duties of all of which have ever 
been discharged faithfully. 

Elijah Dodd removed to Toledo in 1835, and to Waterville in 1837. Was 
elected Sheriff of Lucas county in 1851 and re-elected in 1853. 

Capt. W. E. Standart, now of the firm of B. G. S\veet & Co., Toledo, was one 
of the first messengers who took charge of th'j e:ri'ess matter, after the line 
was established, between Buffalo and Detroit -I;;; treasure, involving values 
forwarded between New York and Detroi'^ "■ ■ ' encased in a small hand 
trunk. 

William Andrews removed with his famil}- to Toledo in May, 1835. He was 
a good man, esteemed by all the old citizens, and died about 18 years ago. 
His son, Samuel Andrews, now of the Blade office, is among his survivors. 

Alexander Wales removed to Vistula in June, 1833, and erected the first 
frame house in that division. He is now a resident of Wood county, adjoining 
the corporation of Toledo. His son is Mr. C. T. Wales, Secretary of the Toledo 
Board of Trade. 

Thomas Howard, from Yates county, N. Y., landed at Fort Meigs in the 
spring of 1823. He and part of the families made the trip from Buffalo in a 
30 ton scLooner, commanded by Capt. Almon Reed— the teams and live stock 
being driven over land by anotlier part of his family, which struck the Maumee 
at a point now known as East Toledo. From here they proceeded up the river 
to Flirt Meigs, experiencing some difficulty in urging tlieir live stock through 
tbe Indian camps, which at that time lined the banks of the Maumee, and 
snuffing danger afar off. the horses and cattle manifested greater I'car of these 
lords of the forest than did their owners. The branches of the emigrating families, 
some taking the water, and others the overland route, and which came to the 
Maumee Vallev at that time, consisted of his three sons, Edward, Robert A., 
and Richard M. W. Howard, and their several families. Subsequently tiu^sr; 
households, and also a daughter, Mrs. Sidney Howard Davison, (now a resident 
of _ a Salle Co., Ill , and aged 77 years,) removed to the head of the rapids of 
the Maumee (Gilead.) Thomas Howard, born November 15, 1758, died at the 
head of the rapids. May 25, 1825. 

Robert A. Howard, who was born Nov\ 10, 179^, survived many years all 
his brothers. He resided at the head of the rapids about ten years, and re- 



650 Additional Pionctr.s of the Maamet Valley. 



moved to York townsliin, Lucas couuty, (now Pike township, Fulton county,) 
wh .re he died on the 26th of November, 1872, at the age of 74 years. In w 
mention of his death, the Toledo CoTimerci-u of Dec. 4, 1872, said : 

'* He remained at the head of the rapids until 1855. when, having disposed of 
ihc farm which he had made so valuable by the labor of his early manhood, he 
removed to the place on which he died, and which was then in York township, 
Lucas county. He immediately took high rank among the early settlers of 
that part of the country, and was veiy soon made a Justice of the Peace, which 
office he h'^ld for many j^ears, and used it as a means of effecting a settlement 
of differences between his neighbors, rather than as a means of litigation. He 
was a just man, and his advice, ottener than his docket, was made the basis 
of the adjustment of controversies brought before him. 

" After the county of Fulton was established he was employed by the Commis- 
sioners to transcribe the records in the Recorder's offices of the old counties, for 
use of the new. He was also elected Recorder of Fulton county, and in the 
performance of all his duties, proved himself a faithful and conscientious officer." 
This couple had experience that fully instructed them in all the joys and 
hardships of pioneer life. 

Mrs. Howard, whose maiden name was Priscilla Nelson, preceded her hus- 
band the previous May to her final rest, afier having lived with him happily 
during a period of about half a century. Mrs. Howard is represented by those 
who had best opporluniiies of understanding her character, as one of the best 
of wives, mothers and neighbors among the pioneers of North Western Ohio. 
This pioneer couple, so long partners in marital life, had raised a family of 
nine children, (all born in the Valley,) to sustain them in their declining years. 
These children all attained maturity, and six of them yet survive — their several 
names and residences being A. A. Howard, of Mason, Mich., Col. N. M How- 
ard, now a prominent and successful business man of Toledo, having resided 
with his family in the city during the last twenty years, Wm. H. Howard, of 
Illinois, Edwin A. Howard, of Hillsdale, Mich., (who was recently appointed 
by President Grant to tae Indian agency in Dakota territory,) James W. How- 
ard, (who resides upon the old homestead in Fulton county,) and the surviving 
daughter, Mrs. Aurelia Augusta, wife of John H. Reid, Esq., of Bowling 
Green. 

Hon. D. W. H. Howard, member of the present State Senate, and resident 
of Fulton county, and his sister, Anjanette, wife of Hon. Geo. Laskey, of Grand 
Rapids, Wood county, are the son and daughter of Edward Howard, (who 
was born in the year 1787, and died in 1841,) and whose wile is yet living 
with her daughter, Mrs. Laskey, near the spot where they settled half a century 
since, at the head of the Rapids. 

Wm. Howard, oldest sou of Thomas Howard, and father of Mrs. Charlotte 
P. Pratt, of the head of the rapids, and James Montgomery Howard, of La 
Salle Co., 111., came to the Maumee Valley in about 1830, in a small keel boat 
named ''the Maumee Pilot," built upon Seneca lake and brought through the 
Erie canal, and towed across lake Erie from Buffalo to Perrysburg by Capt. 
David Wilkinson's schooner, "Eagle." 

Peter H. Shaw removed to the Valley in 1823. With Daniel H. Ilubbell, 
(the latter at one time Associate Judge of Wood county,) in 1824, he made 
four miles of the mud turnpike between Perrysburg and Fremont, now known 
as the Western Reserve and Maumee road. Mr. Shaw was engaged by Col. 
Moore, U. S. Chief Engineer, in the original survey of the Wabash & Erie 
Canal, from Defiance to Maumee City, in 1827, when it was contemplated in 
view of the unsettled condition of the boundary question between Ohio and 
Michigan, to terminate the Canal at the foot of Ihe Rapids. Valuable matter 
in the form of a journal, kept by Mr. Siiaw, commencing with his first settle- 
ment in the country, and extending through a period of many years, was des- 
troyed. In January, 1835, Mr. Shaw removed his family to Toledo, and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of brick. The brick in the wa'ls of the house of Maj. 



Additional Pioneers of the Maumee Valley. 651 



Colemau I. Keeler, ami yet standing on the old territorial road, (now street,) 
and being the second brick bouse erected in Toledo, were mnde by him. He 
cleared t'lilly one hundred acres of land now within tlie city limits of its timber, 
the wood beiiijr principally used for his brick kilns. This business of manu- 
facturing brick he continued until 185(!, when he removed to his farm in Adams 
township, about two and a quarter miles distant from the Court House, where 
he yet resides. 

Capt. B. G. Sweel, now of Toledo, and of the firm of Sweet & Standart, coal 
dealer.-, &r., is one among (he old navigators of the lakes. He commenced as 
a sailor <m board the schooner " Hannah," fitted out at Dunkirk in the spring 
of 1822, and first commanded the schooner " Antoinette," built at Black river 
in about 18^58. He commanded the "North Star," which ran eight years as 
an excursion steamer to the head of Lake Superior. Cnpt. Sweet was the first 
commander of a side-wheel steamer — ' The Northerner" — that passed through 
the Sault St. Marie canal. He quit the marine service at the close of naviga- 
tion in 18(38, and resigned his place as Captain of the propeller " S. D. 
Caldwell." 

James B. Sleedman, from Louisville, Ky., removed to the Maumee Valley 
Oct. 22, 1837, and became a contractor on Sec. 75, W. & E. Canal 3 miles 
above Napoleon, and took in partnership his brother-in-law, Elijah Dodd. He 
was elected a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1841, and re- 
elected in 1843 ; elected a member of the Board of Public Works in 1851, and 
re-elected for the full term in 1852 ; in 1857, Printer to the House of Represen- 
tatives at Washington. In the late civil war he commanded the 14th Regt. O. 
V. L, in the three months' service, and September 25, 18R1, the regiment 
was re-organized for the three year's service, and he was again commissioned 
as Colonel ; July 17, 1802, was confirmed by the Senate as Brig. Gen., and in 
March, 1864, confirmed as full Maj. Gen. in the army of the United States, 
with rank of the same grade in the regular service. In the Army, no officer 
in the volunteer service, and few West Point graduates, won higher honors. In 
1807, he was tendered the appointment of the Mexican Mission, which he 
declined ; but accepted the appointment of Collector of Internal Revenue at 
New Orleans. 

John R. Bond, born on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, began 
business life in Toledo in 1836, as a clerk for Scott & Richardson, in the first 
hardware, tin and stove store established in the place — said store being located 
on lot 355, Vistula Division, near the corner of Summit and Cherry streets. In 
the following year the establishment was removed to the " Arcade store," lot 
347, Vistula. He was a clerk for Titus & Co., trom 1841 to 1842, and then re- 
turned to his first employers, and continued with them until 1843, when he 
purchased the store, and continued in business himself during a period of three 
year.s. Mr. Bond commanded a regiment during the late civil war, and has 
filled many civil positions; and has never failed in the faithful discharge of 
every trust confided to him. 

Henry D. Kingsbury commenced his residence in the Maumee Valley in 
1835. He was, during many years, proprietor of the Kingsburj' House, Summit 
street — served several terms as Sheriff of Lucas county, and after the commence- 
ment of the late civil war, entered the three months service, and was made Cap- 
tain and Quartermaster. Under the three years call, he commanded a regi- 
ment, and now is connected with the police force of Toledo. 

Matthias Boos began business in Toledo in 1837, and is yet prominent in 
trade. 

David Johnston came in 1835, and afterward took charge of the Ohio 
House, corner of Walnut and Summit streets. He is yet in business. 

The business notices in the first number of the Manhattan Advertiser, issued 
July 13, 1836, were signed by the following named persons : Piatt Card, Two 
Stickney, R. S. Tylor, Dr. Calvin Smith, S. Johnson, Wm. Martin, Chas, gill «& 



652 Additional Pioneers of the Maumee Valley. 



Co., D. Chase, Chase, Sill & Co., J. P. Thompson, Adolphus Kraemer, F. L. 
Nichols, Footc, Swift & Co., and S. Cornwall. 

In addition to those who advertised, there were B. F. Smead, editor of the 
Manhattan Advertiser, one of the most sprightly journals in the West ; a 
lawyer named Wheeler, and a physician of the same name ; David Mooney ; 
Henry D. Ward ; Mr. Warner; Willard Smith; A. Williams, now 103 Adams 
street; E. C. Hart; Geo. Humphrey; Guy and Joel Carpenter; James Kirk; 
Fred. Osgood ; Bishop Davis, and others, whose names cannot now be recalled. 
Of the old residents, Gen. D. and Dr. James L. Chase, Joseph Jacobs, Jonathan 
Lundy, George Abt and George Angel, are all that remain. 

Gen. Daniel Chase first visited the Valley in 1834. His military record in 
the Mexican war, in which he won a Major's commission, was a very honor- 
able < ne. Advancing years did not permit him to take so active a part in the 
late civil war. 

Timothy Coghlin, with his two sons and one daughter, removed to Toledo 
in October, 1836, and engaged in the employ of the Erie and Kalamazoo rail- 
road, and remained in the service of the Company until 1842. Meantime he 
had rented a farm in Washington, adjoining Port Lawrence township, which 
he cultivated, and upon which he resided until his death, in September, 
1842. Mr. Coghlin was respected by all the old citizens for his straight-forward 
integrity. 

The business career of Dennis Coghlin commenced in Toledo directly after 
his father's death, and has continued since. During a period of six years, he 
was Director of the Lucas county Infirmary, for several years a member of the 
City Council, and, under the administration of Mr. Buchanan, Collector of 
Customs at Toledo. 

Patrick Martin and wife, one son and three daughters, removed to Washing- 
ton township, in 1834, and purchased " the south half N. E. Qr. of Sec. 12, Tp. 
3, in Twelve ^lile Reserve, Miami Rap ds. c ntaining 80 acres" — said land 
being now in Adams Township, i nd occupit d by Geo. Willi;im.s. Edward, a 
promising and useful young man, was among the earliest California emigrants, 
and died on the Pacific coast on the 23d of June, 1850. Mrs. Dennis Coghlin 
Is the only survivor ()f Mr. Martin's family who cnme with her parents to the 
country. Mr. Martin died June 8, 18.59. 

Henry G. Neubert, an old soldier, who had served in the armies under the 
First Napoleon, and after his exile and death, in tlie British service, became 
an early resident of Toledo, and was engaged in the construction of the Wabash 
ct Erie Canal, during which employment, by the fall of a tree, he lost his 
right arm. He died of cholera in 1852. His descendants are Mrs. Guido Marx, 
and Capt. Henry G. Neubert. 

Thomas Carr removed to Toledo in October. 1836. He was a contractor on 
the Wabash & Erie Canal. 

Wm. J. Finlay came to Toledo from Lockport, N. V., with C'ol. McKenster, 
(afterwards proprietor of the old American House.) in 1843. He can scarci-ly 
be classed among the pioneers; but his success in life has been one so remark- 
al)le, that a departure in his case from the general rule, ajijiears ju-^tiliable. 
Under Col McKenster, Mr. Finl ly occupied subordinate positions; but soon 
his rare intelligence and natural business tact manifested themselves, and at- 
tracted notice, and in 1846, upon the resignation of Capt. Georii'e Dutch Davis, 
he was placed in charge of the Toledo office of the Canal Packet Co., where he 
continued until tlie withdrawal of the lines, which occurred on the opening of 
the Toledo & Wabash railroad, and then closed the office. From such begin- 
nings, he has continued until he has reached opulence and erected monuments 
of his enterprise, the most conspicuous of which is the Chamber of Commerce 
building, which will endure in after years as one of the prominent fea- 
tures of the business history of these times. The first and only official place 
Mr. Finlay ever held, was derived from Gen. Jas. B. Steedman, when the lat- 



Additional Pioneers of the Maiimee Valley. 653 



ter was member of the Ohio Board of Public Works, and this was the office of 
Inspector of canal boats, at a salary of $65it per annum ; although, during the 
cholera season of 1852, when the collector, weigh-master. and inspector 
vacated their offices, and sought more healthy localities, Mr. Finlay remained 
at his post, and discharged the duties of his own and their offices. 

Thomas Southard commenced his residence in Toledo about the 1st of May, 
1832. 

Robert N. Lawton began hotel life in Toledo as proprietor of the American, 
corner Summit and Elm streets, in 1839. In 1843. he became proprietor of the 
Indiana House, corner of Summit and Perry. He died at Indianapolis, June 
30, 1850, and his remains were returned to Toledo for interment. His widow, Mrs. 
Susau A. Lawton, and daughter of the late Sylvester Cornwall, of Manhat'an, 
is yet a resident of Toledo. Mr. Lawton was a thorough gentleman, and a 
popular hotel iT.iprietor. 

John P. Freeman commenced his business career in Toledo in 1835. 

Thomas R. McKnight was one among the oldest citizens of Perrysburg. H'^ 
was a soldier under Hnrrison, and at the siege of Fort Meigs, in 1813. In 1819 
he returned to Perrysburg, and in 1820 removed his family there. 

"Wm. Crook emigrated from Eng.and, and removed to Toledo in the fall of 
1831, and in 1882 to Per:ysburg, where he died in February, 1871. 

Jacob Keller removed to the Maumee Valley in 1832, and died on the farm 
of Peter H. Shaw, in Adams township, April 23, 1873. 

.1. G. Cass removed to Waynesfi Jd (now Adams) township, May, 1822. 

James S. Herrick removed to Maumee City in 1823. He left five sons at llie 
time of his death, namely : William, Eli-sha, M(rris, Calvin and Willson. 

David iledges removed to the Wolf Rapids firm, s'^uth side of the Maumee, 
near the Mi.«sionary S ation, in 1831, where he resided several years, and th n 
remov d to Vienna, Mich., where he died in 1861. He was the father of Mrs. 
Henry S. Commager. 

John Wolf emigrated from Syracuse, N. Y., to Watervilie, in 1834, and died 
in 1864. 

David Smith and Lydia M. Webb were married at Selina, New York, Jan. 
9, 1831 — moved to Buffalo in August of the same year, and oil the 28th of May, 
I83i, commenced their residence in Watervilie. In 1836, Mr. Smith was elected 
Justice of the Peace. In 1838, he was appointed Postmaster, and in 1845. re- 
appointed. Mr. Smith removed to Maumee City, having been appoin.ed Col- 
lector of Canal lolls, and died of cholera, August 17, 1854. 

Judge James W> Icott died at his residence in Maumee Citj-, January 5, 1873. 
At St.^ Louis, March 8, 1821, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Capt. Wm. 
Wells, a sketch of whose remarkable life appears in other pages. Judge Wol- 
cott's first settlement in the Valley was at Fort Wayne, and in 1826 removed to 
Maumee City, where he continued to reside until his death. 

John Pray, a man prominent in the ear y settlement of the ]\Iaumee Vallev, 
and one of the first Commissioners of Wood county, died at his residence in 
Watervilie in 1873. 

Gobriel Crane, with a vounger brother, Josiah L., born in Orange county. 
New York, March 30, 1800, travelled to Ohio on foot — leaving their native 
place December, 1821. On New Year's day, 1822, they walked forty miles, 
each carrying with him a knapsack weighing between thirty and forty pounds; 
arrived at Dayton, after several stoppages near Worthiugton, Franklinton, and 
in Ross county, March, 1822. At Dayton they remained about four years, and 
in December, 1826, removed to Perrysburg. In 1835, Gabriel Crane removed 
to his present residence in Oregon township, and built the first frame house be- 
tween Perrysburg and the mouth of the river. Part of his place is row 
within the corporate limits of Toledo. Josiah L. Crane died at Perrysburg in Mav, 
1852. 



654 Toledo — General Charles W, Hill. 



Gen. Charles W. Hill removed to Toledo in April, 1836, and was employed 
at first in commercial and mercantile business. Soon after, he was appointed 
City Clerk, and, borrowing books of D. O. Morton, Esq., read law until June 3, 
1839. when he was admitted to the Bar. On the 1st of October, 1839, he 
became a partner of M. H. Tilden, and Irom that time (except from June 18, 
1861, to July 13, 1865, when he was in the military service,) he was a hard- 
working and successful lawyer Brief reference is made to his professional 
career on pp. 289-290 ot this volume. But it is proper that notice be taken ol 
his unrequited services in another sphere of usefulness. Reference is here 
made to the public schools. Starting out with three great cardinal principles, 
he has adhered to them with a persistency, certainly not pecuniarily profitable 
to himself, though fruitful of good results to the city and vicinity : 1st. That 
he wovild not live in a community that could not thoroughly educate his chil- 
dren in the public schools ; 2nd. That he would ask nothing for his own chil- 
dren that he Avould not provide for all other youth in the city ; 3rd. That the 
incumbent of a public office, voluntarily accepted, though without emolument, 
and however onerous, is bound to perform all the duties of his position, re- 
gardless of his private interests. He began at the foundation, when efficient 
public schools, " so far West," were scarcely heard of, by drafting and securing 
the passage of a bill which became the school law of Toledo, March 9, 1849, 
and which, with only a few financial improvements and a change in the mode 
of electing Directors, (all prepared by him,) has remained in force to this day. 
From that law, and the vigilant and intelligent use of its powers, Toledo has 
reared her school system, — renowned in the land, and justly the admiration and 
pride of the city. A large per cent, of the most enterprising business men, and 
useful families of Toledo, have been drawn to, and retained in the city, by the 
efficiency and faithful administration of her public school system. Gen. Hill 
was nominated for Director at the first election under this law, but declined 
because his then law partner feared that devotion to organizing and building 
up public schools would interfere with professional business. Gen. H., how- 
ever, was elected to the Board of Education in May, 1851, and has been re- 
elected by the people from term to term ever since. In May, 1855, he was 
elected President of the Board, and has been elected to and held that office 
every year since, except the year beginning in May, 1864, when he declined the 
Presidency. 

The public schools have been the object of his special solicitude, and 
he devotes to them his time and talent at the expense of his personal welfare. 
If a client, in arrears for fees, would happen to meet him with an offer of pay- 
ment, at a moment when busily employed in the investigation of some matter 
relating to the public schools, the General would probably politely dismiss his 
visitor with a request that he call at some more convenient season, when he 
would have time to look over the accomit and receipt for the money. 

Gen. H. was frequently a member of the city Council, and served in that body 
eleven years. 

We get no account of his feeding high at the public crib but once. He 
became broken down by hard work and too much service "on the stump" 
in the Taylor and Fillmore campaign ; and "spoils" were awarded to him in 
the shape of the Collcctorship ot Customs at Toledo, in 1850. For a long series 
of years no returns had been made from this dis-trict, and so the pay of Collec- 
tor was a little might in the fog. The General, entering upon his new duties 
with his usual directness, dug up several thous:md dollars of duties previously 
collected, but not reported. These were secured by the Government. Detailed 
reports of the commercial business of the district were regularly made, and, for 
the first time, the district acquired some standing at Washington, and duties 
were collected during his first season to the amount of over ^80,000. After 
nearly three years' service as a revenue officer, involving a considerable part 
of his time with accounts rendered every month, Pierce's administration re- 
quired the accounts to be re-stated for quarterly periods, and then his accounts 
were settled, ruling out every thing for stationery, lights, fuel, and the expenses 



Captain Samuel Allen and other Pioneers 655 



of moving the office from Maumee, merely because not properly estimated for 
under unknown rates. His whole pay as Collector was found to have been 
fixed by an old law at $325.46 per year ! So much he received and no more, 
but his successor, Mr. Riley, was, by a new law, immediately placed on a par 
with the Collector of Detroit, as to salary and lees, it having become known, 
under Hill's administration of the office, that the Maumee Valley had a com- 
merce worthy the attention of the Government, and its Collector duties to per- 
form worthy of a respectable compensation. But that Congress had not dis- 
covered the retroactive rule of salaries, and Hill was all the feaner for having, 
once in his life, " fed at the public crib." 

The late Capt. Samuel Allen, who was prominently connected with the early 
efforts to build up Toledo, has already been referred to in remin'scences of 
several pioneers. His amiable widow survived her husband many years, and 
died in Toledo, at the residence of her son-in-law. Judge Thomas Dunlap, 
within the last eighteen months. Her mind, endowed with rare natural gifts, 
had been highly cultivated, and her womanly graces commanded the highest 
respect. 

Added to what has hitherto been stated of Captain Allen and his family, the 
following memoranda were gathered from Mrs. A. a few months prior to her 
death : 

When Capt. Allen, and a portion of his family, visited the Valley in October, 
1831, they found the principal Ottawa Indian village located on the Manhat- 
tan side of the river, near its mouth, iwhere government made its payments to 
the tribe ; and their hunting grounds were on the opposite side. Mrs. Allen, 
August 1, 1871, communicating her recollections through Mrs. Judge Dunlap, 
said : " I remember well the beautiful road leading from Vistula to this Indian 
village. It was winding, and shaded by magnificent trees. We frequently 
rode thither with Major Stickney in his one-horse wagon ; and as we passed 
through the village, the little Indians would rnn out calling him " father ! 
father !" which would please him amazingly. What is now chiefly the track of 
Summit street, formed then a most charming ride through a delightful forest. 
The banks of the river were bold, high bluffs, and the graceful little fawns and 
flocks of wild turkeys often crossed our path as we were riding, and disappeared 
in the woods. I had two fawns for my especial playmates — each having a bell 
attached to their necks, and were daily companions in my rambles through the 
Avoods. 

" The Vistula division of the tow^^as surveyed by Seneca Allen. The streets 
bear the names originally given them — myself naming La Grange in memory of 
the home, in France, of Lafayette. Major Stickney gave Summit street its 
name ; and Capt. Allen suggested the names of all the others. 

"During the autumn of 1831 the family returned to Lockport, and in the 
winter following Capt. Allen re-appeared with a force of hands and erected the 
first wharf in the new town, at the foot of Lagrange street. After the opening 
of Lake navigation in the spring of 1832, our whole family removed to Vistula. 
At BuSalo my husband chartered a steamboat, the '' Pioneer," and freighted 
her with the family, servants, workmen, goods and provisions ; and on the last 
day of May, 1833, passengers and goods were landed at Vistula, 

''The Indians were uniformly kind and hospitable. Their title was extin- 
guished by treaty made on the pan of the United States by the Territorial Gov- 
ernor of Michigan, in 1833. The Canadian French were also courteous and 
obliging, and many of their suggestions regarding the diseases then peculiar to 
tlie country, and means to avoid them, were ascertained to be valuable. 
Venison, wdd geese, turkeys, ducks, &c., were abundant. In the summer and 
autumn of 1833, the feeble colony, as well as the French and Indians, suffered 
much from sickness. The first weeping willow transplanted on this soil, was 
brought from Columbus by tnyself, and'the slip had been used on the route as 
a riding whip." 

The wil.ow tree refered to by Mrs. Allljn, which sprang from the branch 
placed in the ground by her own hands in 1882, attained a large growth, and. 



(556 Drs. Jacob Clark, Oscar White and others. 



having lived forty years, was destroyed by a storm, in 1872, the same year that 
her own death occurred. It occupied comer of Lagrange and Superior streets. 

The remains of Capt. Allen and wife now rest in Forest cemetery. Mr. and 
Mrs. Judge Dunlap, who passed their youthful and maturer days here, and 
Iheir children, who were born in Toletlo, are the only descendants ofthefomily 
so prominent in the early history of the place. 

Samuel I. Keeler removed with his family from Onondaga county, New 
York, to the place now owned by Mr. Machcn, Adams street, in 1880. Mr. 
Keeler, with Dr. Conant, and a clergyman, from the river Raisin, organized the 
first Presbyterian chnicli in Toledo, in June, 1833. Among the members 
were Mr. Keeler, his wife and one daughter. The first church meeting was 
held at Mr. Keeler's house, which remained the only place for public worship 
during a peiiod of four years, and was then removed to a school house, where 
now stands the present African church, between Monroe and Washington 
streets. They were not at first enabled to procure wine for sacramental uses, 
but Mr. K. obtained some raisins from Monroe, and, with these and sugar, an 
article was produced that was made to subserve the purpose. Mr. Keeler died 
in 1868, at the age of 84 years. 

Dr. Jacob Clark is the only survivor of that heroic and self-sacrificing class, 
the old time physicians of Toledo. He established himself in Vistula in 1834, 
and at once engaged in not only professional, but in mercantile business — con- 
tinuing in the latter, however, only during a period of five years. He was 
elected State Senator in 1841. from the district then composed of the counties 
of Lucas, Henrj'-, Williams, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert and Allen, With 
the excepti(m of the interruption made in the discharge of Senatorial duties, 
and occasional visits to old Eastern friends, the doctor has now been engaged 
in active medical practice during a term of thirty-eight years. 

Among the old physicians deserving mention, and who were cotemporaries 
of Dr. Clark, were Drs. Fasselt, Bowman, Sutphen, Mosher, Perkins, Ackley, 
Bostwick, Brush, McLain and Smith. Dr. Clark, although honored by all who 
liave known him, did not occupy a higher place in his profession, or in public 
esteem, than several of those named. 

Dr. Oscar White, a veteran in medical practice in the Maumee Valley, but 
for several years engaged in real estate operations in Toledo, contributes tiie 
following. If he had employed his ready and sharp pointed pen in the business 
of writing out his personal experience, it would have formed an interesting 
feature of this work : 

" I came on to this river in August, 1828, and settled at Maumee, then the 
principul place of business in Wood county. In 1833, 1 vaccinated the Ottawa 
tribe of Indians for the Government, then numbering about 800. The first 
corn I bought (in 1829) to feed my horse, I paid 12^ cents per bushel for. 
The horse I paid $31 for, and he was a pretty good horse. I practiced medi- 
cine and went to Findlay, and nearly to Defiance, and nearly to Adrian, in 
Michigan, to see patients. 

" There were lew people here in 1828, but the men and women who were 
here, had distinct individual characters; were independent and out spoken, and 
knew how to take care of themselves in a frontier life. In autumn, the country 
was beautiful beyond any which I have ever beheld, and abounded in cran- 
berries, venison, and wild honey." 

Wm. H. Raymond, in 1836, was a clerk in the store of V. H. Ketcham, cor- 
ner of Elm and Summit streets. He continued a clerk, and in other avoca- 
tions until 1864, when his business operations in Toledo, having proved un- 
fortunate, he compromised with his creditors, and removed to the Pacific coast, 
where, fortune favoring him, he returned and paid his creditors in full, princi- 
pal and interest. No one among the pioneers, on the score of sterling moral 
worth, was better entitled to the rare good fortune that has in later years fallen 
to his lot. 



Other Pioneers of the Valley. 657 



Thomas Daniels came to Toledo in 1837, and in 1838 engaged as clerk and 
apothecary student in the office of Dr. Charles McLean, and subsequently a 
Medical student in the office of one who was a hero in his profession, the 
late Dr. Calvin Smith, whom he attended in his last hours, during the Cholera 
visitation in 1852. In 1846, Mr. Daniels engaged in the Drug business on his 
own account, in which he yet continues, corner of Summit and Cherry street. 

T. 0. Evarts commenced his residence in Toledo as a clerk in the Toledo 
post-office, in 1835. Under the administration of Mr. Polk he was postmaster; 
and his service in the office embraced altogether a period of eighteen years, and 
afforded general satisfaction to the public. His adventures in the mountain 
district of Montana several years ago, where the snows and winter blasts held 
him captive during a period of thirty odd days, are graphically sketched in 
Scribner's Monthly, for November, 1871. 

Cornelius G. Shaw removed to Toledo in Mav, 1832— having resided the pre- 
vious winter in Brest, Michigan. Himself and party landed "at the mouth of 
the river, and walked up to Vistula. The Indians, at their town just below 
jManhattan, were, on the day they landed, in council, to consider the proposi- 
tion to sell their lands to the United States. He was deputy under Mun- 
son H. Daniels, the first Sheriff of Lucas county, and, from 1836 to 1840, served 
as Sheriff of the county. Mr. Shaw died in August, 1850, while en route for 
California. 

Daniel Seaman removed with his family from New Jersey to Erie township, 
Sandusky (now Ottawa) county, June 13, 1832, and subsequently to Woodville, 
where he died, March 25, 18o4. Ira K. Seaman, now a member of the City 
Council and resident of East Toledo, is among the survivors of eleven children. 

Cyrus Coy removed to Gilcad, at the head of the Rapids, in the winti.r of 
1835. He stopped a while at the old stone tavern, on the river bank, then 
owned by Edward Howard, and afterwards moved into a house with Robert 
A. Howard, where he continued until spring. His eldest son, Cyrus H. Coy, 
then 15 years of age, was clerk in the store of P. B. Brown during the winter 
of 1836 ; afterwards, in 1844, was in the Co. Auditor's office under Urial Spen- 
cer, and in 1846 made the first general index to Lucas county records of deeds; 
in 1854 was elected Co. Treasurer, and in 1856 Co. Auditor. He commenced 
his present business of banking in 1865. 

John A. Vroman removed to Sylvania in Juae, 1837. He is now a resident 
of Missouri. 

Elisha Gunn settled at Waterville in 1818, and died in 1843. Of his chil- 
dren, three sons survive, namely : Dexter, Carver and Osman ; and two daugh- 
ters : Mrs. Abagail Bennett, of Illinois, and Mrs. Malinda, widow of the late John 
Knaggs, of Port Miami, whose daughter is the wife of Di. W. W. Jones, Mayor 
of Toledo, and in whose family she resides. 

The late Richard T. Cooke, one of the most eminent of the early lawyers in 
the Maumee Valley, and who is referred to by Mr. Mott, never married. He 
had three sisters, Theda, Delia and Chloe; and two brothers, Calvm and Wil- 
liam. Calvin came to Toledo to settle Richard's estate; and on his homeward 
return to New England was thrown from a stage coach and killed. 

Phillip I. Phillips left Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1823, and entered 160 
acres in Sec. 22, T. 9, sc uth, R. 7 E., and returned to New York in August or 
September, 1823, and in the spring of 1823 brought wih him his wife and 
nephew. Col. Chas. B. Phillips, then a boy aged eight years. During many 
years Mr. Phillips was proprietor of the tavern at Tremainville. The nephew 
is now a member of the firm of Whitaker & Phillips. Mr. Phillips, in com 
pany with a Mr. Allen, on his first visit to inspect the country, came from 
Buffalo to Portland, (aow known as Sandusky City) on the old steamboat Su- 
perior — the lake passage occupying three days, which was then regarded as 
the average rate of speed. From Portland to the Maumee they traveled the 
distance on foot, on the beach of the lake — taking their first meal after leavina 
41 



(>58 Otlier Pioneers of the Valley. 



Portland, on the second day, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of Mrs. 
Slate, on the shore opposite West Sister Island. When he came with his 
family the year following, he cut a roadway for his team on an Indian trail, 
nearly the whole distance between Lower Sandusky and Perrysburg — only 
four miles of the Western Reserve and Maumee Road, between those points 
having then been cut out. 

Col. L. B. Lathrop, born in Royalton, Vermont, immigrated to Richfield 
lown.ship, Lucas county, in 1834, and in 1848 removed to Sylvauia. He served 
:is a member of the Ohio Legislature, and held other official positions, and died 
of paralysis at his residence in Sylvania, on Friday, May 9, 1873. The survi- 
vors of his family are his wife and sons Lorenzo, Luther C, James J., and 
Miles, and daughters Mrs. Mary Ann Wilson and Mrs. Helen Roberts. 

Alonzo Rogers removed to the Maumee Valley in 1835. During a term of 18 
years, he was an active co-worker with Gen. C. W. Hill, as a member of the 
Toledo Board of Education, and prominent in every moral and uselul enter- 
prise designed to advance the interests of mankind. He died Tuesday, May 
J 3, 1873. 

John Poag — (the boy " lost in the woods," — see Knapp's History of Ashland 
county,) was one of the most sagacious men who operated in real estate 
in Toledo. Whatever may have been his irregularities, during liis later life, 
it may be said of him that he contributed largely, by his foresight, in placing 
the indestructible foundations upon which now rest the city of Toledo. 
Several successful business men, in prosperous condition, are indebted to Mr. 
Poag for the good fortune that has attended their efforts. He was one of the 
most noble-hearted men, and faithful to friendship, that lived in Toledo. 

Col. S. H. Steedman became a resident of the Valley in 1837 ; — was a con- 
tractor on the Wabash and Erie Canal, and served creditably as commander of 
H regiment during the late civil war. 

Joseph Ogle removed to Fort Ball, June, 1824, having emigrated from Fre- 
derick, Md., and preceded Dr. Eli Dresbach, Henry C. Brish, Hon. Fred'k W. 
Green, John Parks, and sevtral other old Marylanders. Mr. Ogle was the first 
permanent white settler on the Fort Ball side of the river. His widow, at the 
age of 85 years, yet resides upon the old homestead. 

Wm H. Merrett, born in Brunswick Co., Va., came with his parents to 
Columbus Ohio, and at the age of 18 years, became an inhabitant of Maumee 
City. He was the first colored man empanelled on a Grand Jury, in the gtate 
of Ohio, at the May Term of Lucas County Common Pleas, 1870, and is now 
u leading man among his race. 

The following additional names, with dates of arrival annexed, are copied, 
chiefly, from the records of the Pioneer Association of the Maumee Valley : 

R. A. Forsyth, 1816, (dead ;) Isaac Hull, 1814, (dead ;) Henry Bennett, Sep 
tember 9, 1833 ; Geo. A. Carpenter, October 2:3, 1840, (dead ;) S. L. Collios, 
December 23, 1831 ; John W. Collins, October 30, 1834 ; N. D. Blinn, Feb- 
ruary 23, 1825, (d' ad ;) J. Austin Scott, May 24, 1823 ; James Myers, April 17, 
1836. (died July 18, 1864 ;) Mavor Brigham, May 25, 1835 ; C. K. Bennett, No- 
vember 15, 1835 ; John R. Bond, October 12, 1836 ; Samuel B. Scott, July 
1835, (dead ;) Horace Thacher, August 15, 1833 ; Chauncey D. Woodruff, April 
2, 1835 ; John Bates, Aprd 10, 1832, (died March 4, 1866;) James M. Comstock, 
March 20, 1836 ; S. A. Raymond, August 27, 1839 ; E. J. Woodruff. June 18, 
1836; Amasa Bishop, October 1, 1824 ; C. V. Jennison, May. 1818 ; M. L. Col- 
lins, January, 1834, (dead;) Henry Reed, sen'r., October, 1833, (died July 26, 
1864 ;) Oliver Stevens, October, 1832 ; Wm. Prentice, June 10, 1818 ; Henry 
Wood, June 10, 1832; Denison B. Smith, June 10, 1836; P. I. Phillips, Janu- 
ary, 1825; Edwin Fuller, October 21,1839; Frederick Bissell, August, 1835, 
(.died June 6, 1870 ;) Alex. H. Newcomb, October, 1835 ; S. B. Scott, June 
1887 ; Luther Whitmore, Aoril, 1825 ; Joseph Jones, 1835 ; M. L. Leezen, 1839 



Other Pioneers of the Valley. 659 



A A. Belknap. 1834; Eber Wilson, June 18, 1823 ; Charles A. Crane, 1830- 
^'i.^oo^^/^-V.^^^r,^' ^^^^= ^<^«- Powers, June, 1835; Andrew Bloomfleld, May 
%lK^^i ^"''^'^u^ S^^^^' ^^^y- ^^^^ ! ^^^""^^ ^^- Young, at Maumee June 10, 
1835; Jeremiah C. Crane, June 4, 1827; John U. Pease, November 15, 1835 
(dead Price Hi ton. Defiance, December 3, 1823 ; Galusha Chase, Perrysburs' 
i^^o % ^^'^-?,' w^'?^^V' Hartman, October, 1835; Thomas Southard, May 
1832; Chas. T. Wales, June, 1832 ; Thomas Corlett, August, 1834; Jesun W 
■^.T' T^rSr^^^^,^- H. Bush, May, 1834; P. C. Lewfs, 1830; John Pitd.; 
.836; John Van Fleet, 182!); Daniel Newton, 1840; Jerome B. Smith 1833- 
^^"■-.S-^^^w' September 10, 1823; John Conlard, 1837. (dead ;) Martin War- 
m!"' r^ioo'o^'?- -^''^T^^'-^^^o^A^^^^' Sylvester Brown, 1831; Elijah Herrick, 
May 5, 1822 ; John P. Rour, 1831 ; Geo. Spencer, 1836 ; Andrew Printup, 1834 • A 
P. Reed, 1834 ;W. R. Hull, 1833 ; C. Herrick, May 5, 1822 ; Wm. O. Ensi^n, 1837 ■ 
^QQ^^'^T^n'^f ^^T^ i.^u'*''- ^- P'^^'^' ^^^^ ' No^^ A- Whitney, 1824 ;, Pliny Lathrop 
tu^Vhh ^-^'^^r ' -February, 1835 ; Robert A. Howard, March 25, 1823, (died Nov 
T '' o , ;lt^- Montgomery Howard, (born at head of the Rapids, of the Maumee' 
•uin. ^1, 1828;) John J. JManor,(born at Providence, Sept. 25, 1827 ■) C M Dorr 
Aug 1837, (died April 1870 ;) Hiram Walbridge, summer, 1833, (dead ;) Horace s' 
Walbridge, summer, 1833 ; Heman D. Walbridge, summer 1833 • 
^n^f'''1lo.^i^'i^^% ^P»-i^. l-'^.S^. (dead;) Valen'tiue H. Ketcham,' 
July, 1836; P. F. Berdan, April, 1836; J. K, Secor, October 1840- 
Charles Billard, July, 1837; Horace Hertzler; James Smith, September 1834- 
bhibuah Spink, April, 1833 ; Capt. David Wilkinson, 1818; James Curtis, 1,834' 
(clead;) Joshua Chappell, 1823. (dead ;) Wm. Houston, May, 1836 (dead •) s' 
i« J rT^''^' J"'y' 1^^' ; P^^'id Creps, May 22, 1883 ; Mars Nearing, October 
si' i J- ^"^'tli' September 15, 1835; ED. Peck, June, 1834; Julius Blinn 
18,4; Isaac Van Tassel, December, 1829; E. S. Hanks, November, 18a5 ■ John 
A Robertson, June 3, 1836; Wm. Crook, sen'r., August 1831 ■ L Perrin 
March 19. 1828; Wm. Flynn, June 23, 1833; James Donipace ' July 1834 ^ 
Henry Seabart, October 8,1833; Wm. H Bennett, September 1835 E w' 
\'^^rT\I'S''TJ' ^f'^h^Z""'''^ ^^y^";'' September, 1837, (dead ;) H. T. Smith', 
f's'^V ' JP5 J'^ilf- I- Webb, September 15, 1828; W. H. Jones, December 
1833; Gea N Parsons, May, 1837; Carlos Colton, March,- 182i; Richard 
Bamford October 10, 18:^8, (dead ;) Harrison L. Holloway, Ma^ 26, 1834 Benry 

foo^^^Tlr'''^'''' -^f^"^',^^^^; ^"^^ '^^y^^'^' M^V25, 1835; Harvey Kellogg, Ma/ 
183/ ; Horace Thatcher, August 15, 1833 ; 1'hos. Pierson, June 1839 Abner 

J'" o?' ^^.?cf ' ^1^? ' ^- ^A ^^"^"^•^' J"°^ 1^' 1834 ; Jam'es Pearson, 'Sep'em 
ber 23, 1839; Solomon Johnson, 1836; Phillip G. Loope, 1830- L L More- 
house, May, 1837; B. F. Pratt, March, 1824; John Fay, October, 1833' S H 
Wolfmger April, 1834; D. R. Stebbins, September, 1835; W B Gunn Sep 
tember, 1820; Joseph Mitchell, May, 1830; Geoi-ge Allen 3Iav 1834 GeoSe 
Weddell, May, 1837 ; D. Lindsay, 1834 ; C. C. Baif d, 1835 ': Geo S McKnTgM 
January 1830; F. Osgood, 1836, (died, July 26, 18G7-) Daniel Burns ll?' 
Edwin Phelps 1834; W. .L Danihs, 1832 ,'^ A.' Stepban A^JuS n,' Ssl' 

(d Pd" 1 86?'rFH^''' ^^iTn" ^"^' ^4^^' ^^'^1-} ^^l^ =^ ^'"- Hei rick, Swanion, 1823 
(died 1869 ;) Edmund R. Dyer, at Waterville, 1836, (died in Toledo, 1863 •) Luk.- 

£,nP'''iXi7'"'T^'l^^^^'^^r^'^ ^'^"•'^^ ^^■?"''' 1^3^^ P^'^ick Quig'ley at Man' 
hattan 1837; Jonathan Lundy, at Manhattan, 1836; Dcunison sTeelJ at Mau 
raee City August, 1833, (de«l;) Col. John Faskin, July 1848 CI arle^ 
Scott, at Toledo, 1839 ; Mrs. Parker, Hicksville, Defiance county 1835 '^ 



APPENDIX A. 



J3AR OF I^UCAS COUNTY — LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1873 AND 1873. 



D. R. Austin, 133 Probate Judge's office. 

VV. Baker, No. 2 Hartford Block. 

Clement Carpenter, No. 7 Hartford 
Block. 

C. S. Curtis, No. 11 Lenk's Block. 

Tiiomas Dualap, 10 Chamber of Com- 
merce. 

A. W. Eckert, Room 3, Myers' Block. 

Clayton W . Everett, Attorney, To- 
ledo, Ohio. 

.1. & E. H. Fitch, corner Summit and 
Jefferson streets. 

Joseph D. Ford, Prosecutino- Attor- 
ney, Lucas County, No. 3 Hartford 
Block. 

C. F. France, Nos. 2 and 5 Hartford 
Block. 

J. T. Greer, 55 Adams street, Trinity 
Block. 

G. Harmon, 14 Drummond's Block. 

George R. Hayn.es, 4 King & Col- 
burne's Block. 

A. S. Hill, 8 Drummond's Block. 

C. W. Hill, 8 Drummond's Block. 

H. E. Howe, No. 3 Lenk's Block. 

Frank H. Hurd, 9 and 11 Drummond's 
Block. 

Kent, Newton & Pugsley, 4 Drum- 
mond's Block. 



Desault B. Kirk, 1 Anderson's Block. 
John F. Kumler, 1 Mver's Block. 
Ira E. Lee, 158 Summit Street. 
R. C. Lemmon, 3 Anderson's Block. 
Macomber, Moore & McDonnell, 48 

Summit street. 
McVey & Houghton, 8 Hartford Block. 
Clarence Morris, 7, Hartford Block. 
J. R. Osborn, 13 Drummond's Block. 
E. D. Potter, Jr., 7 Drummond's Block. 
Charles Pratt, 34 and 35 Chamber of 

Commerce. 
J. F. Price, 4 King's Block. 
J. M. Ritchie, 3 Lenk's Block. 

B. W. Rouse, 6 Drummond's Block. 

C. H. Scribner, 9 and 11 Drummond's 
Block. 

Harvey Scribner, 9 and 11 Drum- 
mond's Block. 

Wager Swayne, 13 Drummond's Block. 

Charles C. Starr, 26 Chamber of 
Commerce. 

M. R. Waite, 37 Chamber of Com 
merce. 

Richard Waite, 27 Chamber of Com 
merce. 

Chas. G. Wilson, 34 and 25 Chamber 
of Commerce. 

G. B. Wright, No. 1 Anderson Block. 



EAR OF MERCER COUNTY —LAWYERS IN rRACTICK IN 1872 AND 1873. 



Keepers Albery, 
J. H, Day, 
T. J. Godfrey, 
F C. LeBlond, 



James G. Loughridge, 
William F. Miller, 
Hiram Murlin 



BAR OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY — LAWYERS IN PRACTICB IN 1872 AND 1873 



George W. Andrews, Wapaukonuetta. 
Layton & Layton, " 

F. C. Layton, " 

W. V. M. Layton 
R. D. Marshall, 



S. R. Mott, Sr., St. Mary's. 

L. C. Sawyer, " 

F. C. & C. J. Van Anda, Wau- 

paukonnetta. 
John Walkup, Waupaukonnetta. 



Bar of 1872-73. 



661 



BAR OF CRAWFORD COUNTY— LA WYERS IN PRACTICE IK 1873 AND 18T3. 

Frank'n Adams, Bucyrus. j E. B. Finley, Mader's Work, Bucj-ms. 

Thos. Beer, No. 5 Quimby blnrk, up Stephen R. Harris, 



stairs. 
James Clements, Bucyrll^ 
J. W. Coulter, Gallon. 



James Marslim an, Gallon. 
Josiah Scott, Bucyrus. 
Jacob Scroggs, " 



RAE OF PORT WAYNE— LA WYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1873 AND 187b. 



James W. Borden. 
Robert Brackenridgp. 
JefF. C. Bowser. 
R. C. Bell. 

Joseph Brackenridgp. 
S. H. Bloomhuff. 
D. H. Colerick. 
H. Colerick. 
W. G. Colerick. 
Wm. W. Carson 
Homer C. Hartman. 



John W. Hayden. 
Charles M. Hertig. 
John Morris. 
F. P. Randall. 
E. O'Ronrke. 
Samuel E. Sinclair. 
Stephen F. Smart. 
M. V. B. Spencer. 
W. H. Withers. 
Allen Zollars. 



BAR OF ALLEN COUNTY— LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IK 1872 AND 1873. 



John F. Brotherlon, Lima. 

E. A. Ballard, 

Calvin S. Brice, " 

John Collet t, *' 

T. E. Cunningham, " 

Chas. M. Hughes, " 

John I). Foye, Att'y and Real Estate 



Agent, Lima. 
James Irvine, Lima. 
C. N. Lamison, '" 
L. M. Meilv, 
T. M. Robb, 
J. E. Richie, 



LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN DELPHOS IN 1873 AND 1873. 



B. J. Brotherton, Delphos, 
E. Hartshorn. " 



John King, Delphos. 
C. C. Marshall " 



BAR OF VAN WERT COUNTY— LAWYERS IX PRACTICE IN 1873 AND 1873. 



Isaac A. Alexander, Bank Block, Van 

Wert. 
W. J. Beers. Arcade Block, Van Wert. 
James M. Barr, " " " 

C. P. Edson, cor. Main and Jefferson 



sts., Van Wert. 
James L. Price, McCurdy's Block, 

Van Wert. 
G. M. Saltzgaber, Main street, Van 

Wert. 



BAR OF WOOD COUNTY— LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1873 AND 1873. 

Philan S. Abbott, Bowling Green. 1 James R. Tyler, Pcrrvsburg. 

Edson Goit, .< ., I 



662 Bar 1872-73. 



BAE OF FULTON COUNTY — LAWYERS IN PEACTICE IN 1872 ANB 1873. 

Amos Hill, Wanseon. I Wm. W. Touvello, Wanspon. 

Wm. C. Kellev, " I 



BAR OF HKNRY COUNTV — LA'(\ VRRS IN PRACTICE IN 1872 AND 1873. 

.1. M. H.iag. I James G. Haley. 

Sinclair M. Ha.i^nf. I Romaine Tyler. 



B\R OF HANCOCK COUNTY -LAWYERS IN PHACTICE IN 1872 AND 1878. 

Wm. H. Anderson. E. T. Dunn. 

Aaron Blackford. ■ Wm. Mungen. 

Ezra Brown. C. W. O'Neal. 

Henry Brown. M. D. Shaffer. 

C. G. Brand. I A. B. Shaffer. 

J. F. Burket. ; M. C. Whiteler. 
J. A. Bope. 



BAR OF SANDUSKY COUNTY — LAWYER.? IN PRACTICE IN 1872 AND 187S. 



Ralph p. Buckland, Fremont. 
Homer Everett, Buckland's new 
Block, cor. Front and State streets. 
J. L. Green & Son, Tyler's Block, cor. 



John P. Leramon. Clyde, Lemmon's 
Block, and at Sandusky, opposite 
Post Office. 

A. B. Putman. Odd Fellows Blork. 



Cro.irhan and Front streets. Front street. 



BAR OF DEFIANCE COUNTY — LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1872 AND 1873. 

Wm. Carter. I W. D. tlill. 



BAR OF WYANDOT COUNTY— LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1872 AND 1873. 



Curtis Berry. 
Jolm Berry. 
H. A. Hoyt. 
Chester R. Mott. 



R. McKelly. 
John D. Sears. 
Allen Smaller. 



BAR OF PUTNAM COUNTY — LAWYERS IN PRACTICE IN 1872 AND 1873. 

D. I. Brown. - I Swan & Moore, Exchange Bank 

Josiah Gallup. Block. 

J L'H. Long, Exchange Bank Block. | 



Bar of 1872-Y3. 663 



HAK OF SENECA CO LNTY— LAWYERS IN IMJACTICE IN 1872 AND 1873. 



Frank Baker, Tiffin. \ J, V. Jones, Main street, Fostorta. 

A. H. Byers, " i Wm. Lang, Tiffin. 

Geo. W. Bacbman, Tillin. " m..,io„ 
Upton F. Cramer, 



Wm. H. Gibson, 
L. A. Hall, 



Harrison I«loble, " 

Warren P. Noble, Tiffin. 
R. G. Pennington, " 
J. H. Pittenger, " 



J.' K." Huddle, " Geo. E. Seney, 



APPENDIX B. 



TABLE OF ALTITUDES. 

The readers of this volume are under obligations to Jesse L- Williams, Esq., 
of Fort Wayne, for the following accurate table of altitudes, of points in the 
district of country in Ohio and Indiana drained by the Wabash and Mar.mee 
rivers, including also a few prominent points outside this boundary— the mea- 
surement being in feet above the level of Lake Erie : 

Maumee river, at head of Rapids . - - - ^^ 

'■ " at Defiance -- }^ 

at line between Ohio and Indiana loo 

Low water, Maumee river at Fort Wayne lo| 

Summit level, Wabash and Erie canal, (water surface) IJ^ 

Court house square in Fort Wayne 1'''^ 

Marsh 4 miles south-west of Fort Wayne, the summit between Maumee and 

Wabash rivers - ---- ■.;'""; nl\ 

Railroad track at Fort Wayne depot, P F. W. & Chicago railroad . 211 

Low water. Little St. Joseph River of Maumee at Edgerton, on Michigan 

Southern Air Line railroad. --- o-"-' 

Railroad track at Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, on the Michigan South- 

ern Railroad --- }^^ 

Railroad track at Adrian, on Michigan Southern railroad f4. 

" atosseo, " ;; ;; ----- --- -^^o 

at Hillsdale, " " if^ 

ii i> at Jonesville '' " " -.-- 5oo 

" " 1 mile west' of Jonesville— the summit between Lakes 

Erie and Michigan, on this road - ^60 

Railroad track at White Pigeon, on this road -- ^^^ 

Air Line railroad track, 3 miles east of Kendallville- -summit between 

Lakes Erie and Michigan, on this road 4*^] 

Wolf Lake, in south-west part of Noble county, Indiana - ai^ 

Summit between the Maumee and Big St. Joseph rivers, near the same 

point - - i. 

Reservoir at Rome City, on Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad ...*367 

Track of Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad, at north line, Allen 
county - - ^ 

* Built bj^ State of Indiana, in 1838, to aid in supplying proposed Canal from Fort Wayne to 
Lake Michigan . 



664 Table oj Altitudes. 



Track at Auburn, on this road 298 

" at North Line of Indiana, on this road 500 

" at Angola, Steuben county, Indiana, on this road 478 

" at highest point between Fort Wayne and Jackson, on this road, 10 

miles north of Indiana line .f647 

Surface of head branch St. Joseph river, (of Maumee) 5 miles north of 

Indiana line — 423 

Low water, St. Mary's river at railroad bridge, on the Cincinnati, Rich- 
mond & Fort Wayne railroad 196 

Railroad station at Decatur, Adams county, Indiana.. 233 

Summit between St. Marys and Wabash rivers, on C. R. & F. W. railroad. 291 

Low water, Wabash river, at bridge, on this railroad. 248 

Summit between Wabash and Salamania rivers 881 

Low water, Salamania river at Portland, Jay county 330 

Summit between Salamania and Missisinewa rivers, on said road 479 

Low water, Missisinewa river at Ridgeville, Randolph county 390 

Summit on this railroad line between Missisinewa and White rivers 521 

Low water, White river at VVinchester 479 

Railroad track at Winchester, crossing Bellefontaine railroad 514 

Summit between White river and Green's Fork — a branch of White 

Water.. _ 614 

Summit between Green's Fork and Nolan's Fork of White Water, on C. 
R. & F. W. railroad, two-thirds of a mile south of Randolph county 

line %%i% 

Low water of East Fork White Water, at Richmond... .-. 311 

Railroad track at passenger depot in Richmond 390 

Railroad track at Van Wert, Ohio 190 

" " at Delphos, at crossing Miami and Erie Canal 188 

" at depot at Lima, Ohio 263 

Hog Creek Marsh, source of Auglaize river 350 

Summit between waters of Lake Erie and Ohio river, 2 or 3 miles south of 

Crestline, on the Cleveland & Columbus railroad 608 

Summit between Lake Erie and Ohio river, on route of Miami & Erie 

Canal, Shelby county, Ohio 387 

Summit between Lake Erie and Ohio river, at sources of Sandusky and 

Scioto rivers, Crawford county, Ohio 354 

Railroad depot at Columbia City, Whitley county, Indiana 2C9 

" "at Warsaw, Kosciusko county, Indiana 249 

" at Bluffion, Wells county, Indiana 258 

Court-house Square in Huntington, Indiana, on W. and E. Canal 167 

Low water of Wabash river, 2 miles west, at forks of the Wabash 126 

" " of Wabash at mouth of Salamania river 93 

" " " " Missisinewa river... 53 

" " of the Missisinewa river at Marion 220 

Court-house Square in Peru... 75 

Low water, Wabash river at mouth of Eel river. 6 

Railroad depot at Logansport 27 

" " atKokomo 261 

Union " at Indianapolis 140 

Railroad " at Muncie 381 

The highest ridges in this vicinity, near the head branches of the Little St. Jooeph, (of 
Maumee,) and of the Kalamazoo, is the most elevated land in the Southern half of Michigan. 
But the late surveys on the Grand Eapids & Indiana railroad show that the ridses in the 
Northern portion of the Peninsula of Michigan, near the sources of the Manistee, Sheboygan 
and Boyne rivers, rise to about 1,200 feet above Lake Ede. 

The highest point in Indiana is the t'lble land, about ten miles south east of Winchester 
Randolph county, at the sources of the White River, White Water and Big Miami rivers being 
probably about 6S0 or 700 feet above Lake Erie. The general controling descent of the State 
is in a south-western direction to the Ohio River, at the mouth of the Wabash 



Ihe Presbyterian Mission — 1822. 665 

The following points are below Lake Erie (in feet :) 

Railroad depot at Terre Haute, (east side of City) 79 

Low water. Ohio river at New Albany, (below Falls) -- 307 

Surface of Mississippi river at mouth of Illinois river 168 

Atlantic Ocean. --- 563 



APPENDIX C. 



THE FKESBYTERI.VN MISSION ON THE MAUMEE. 

To the honored Mrs. Van Tassel, now of Maumee City, the writer of thi?- 
is indebted for the most interesting account he has discovered, furnished in 
the letters which follow, of the old Presbyterian Maumee Mission. It is proper 
here to add that Mrs. Van Tassel was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Badger, Ge 
neral Harrison's Chaplain during the siege of Fort Meigs, in 1813. 

Maumee City, Dec. 30, 1872. 

Mr. Knapp, — SiK : I will endeavor to answer your questions to the best of mv 
recollection, though not precisely as to time in the oider proposed. 

Mr. Isaac Van Tassel was born in Durham. New York, April 7, 1791, and 
came to Ashtabula, O., in 1821. In the summer of 1823 he was appomted to 
the Maumee Mission, by the Western Missionary S ciety. of Pittsburg, Pa., as 
assistant and teacher, and was the first member of the Mission family on the 
ground. Rev. Samuel Tate, of Mercer, Pa., was appointed Superintendent 
pro tem., remained six months, and was succeeded by Rev. Ludovicus Rob- 
bins. Mr. R. remained about two years, and was dismissed at his own 
request, on account of failing health. Mr. Van Tassel taught the school and 
pursueii his theological studies, spendinr: one winter with Rev. G. H. Cowles, 
D.D, of Austinburg, O. In 1826 Mr. Van Tassel was licensed and ordained 
by the Huron Presbytery ; he remained a member of that Presbytery until the 
Mau.mee Presbj-tery was formed, of which he remained a member until his 
death, March 3,^1849. He died suddenlj^ having been thrown from his horse 
and instantly killed, on his way from Gilead, (now Grand Rapids,) to our 
home in Plain. He was appointed Superintendent of the Maumee Mission in 
1826, at which time the Mission was transfered to the A. B. C. F. M. He 
served in that capacity until the Mission was abandoned, in consequence of the 
removal of the Indians, in 1834. 

I was born in Blandford, Mass., Jan. 19, 1794. My maiden name was Lucia 
Badger. My father. Rev. Joseph Badger, was then pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church in that town. In ISOO he was appointed by the Connecticut, 
Missi onary Society, Missionary to New Connecticut, (now Western Reserve) 
in the Ohio Territory, and in 1803 removed his family to Austinburg, Ashta- 
bula, Co., O. I was married in Ashtabula, O.. to Rev. Isaac Van Tassel, Sep. 
17, 1822. We went immediately to Pittsburg, where we, with others, were 
organized into a Mission family. We landed at Maumee, Oct. 27, 1822. 

Mr. Van Tassel repaired immediately to the site of the mission-house ; found 
the body of a hewn log cabin erected, 16 x 60, and went to work to prepare it 
for the reception of the'family, consisting, then, of 18 members and some hired 
help. As there were no inhabitants near, his only bed was a board, and his 
covering, his overcoat. November 6, the remainder of the family arrived, and 
the men all went to the station, to work on the house. As there were no boats 
coming into the Maumee river, we were obliged to cross the Lake in small 
schooners, chartered for the purpose. November 26, the family met at the 
mission-house, to commence oui labors among the poor Ottawas. Our Mission 
family consisted of Rev. Samuel Tate, wife and son ; Rev. Alvan Coe and wife ; 
Isaac Van Tassel and wife; Leander Sacket (farmer) and wife; John Mc- 



666 The Presbyterian Mission — 1822. 



Pherrin, (carpenter ;) Straight, (blacksmith ;) Miss Sabiua Stevens and Miss 
Hannah Rigajs. 

Our school commenced the winter following, with about half a dozen 
scholars, and increased time after time till we numbered 50 ; but tliey probably 
would not average over 30, as they were very unsteady in their attendance. 

Mrs. Sacket commenced the school, and taught a few weeks ; it was subse- 
quently taught by different members of the family. I taught one j^ear ; the re- 
mainder of my time was devoted, (when not confined by sickness,) to domestic 
avocations, and the study of the Indian language, in which I had made con- 
siderable proficiency. It would have been far more agreeable to my wishes to 
spend my time in studying the language, and instructing adult nrJive females, 
than otherwise. But this was not the plan of our mission ; our instructions 
were, to collect all the native children we could into the school and teach them 
English. These had to be fed and clothed ; consequently little would be done 
to elevate the adult natives. They were not, however, entirely neglected. 
Mr. Robbins and Mr. Van Tassel visited them in their villages, and preached 
to them through an interpreter, and they were urged to adopt habits of indus- 
try, and a better style of living, which they did in some instances. But the 
good which the missionaries had hoped to accomplish was often frustrated 
through the opposition of the Indian traders, who made every effort to keeji 
them intoxicated as much as possible. To civilize and Christianize the Indiana 
would be, to deprive them of their unrighteous gains. It has been said that 
the Maumee Mission was a failure: — If the hopeful conversion of about thirty 
souls, and the triumphant deaths of at least nine of these, who were known to 
the missionaries to have died trusting in the Saviour, besides much seed sown, 
the result of which can only be known in the light of eternity, was not worth 
the few thousands expended there, then might the mission be called a failure. 
The Indians were at first shy and distrustfut ; thej^ could not believe that white 
people intended them any good. As they became acquainted, however, they 
were very friendly, and never gave us any trouble by stealing or commiting 
any depredation. They were always grateful for any favors bestowed on them 
by the missionaries. A mother once came to the station to beg a water-melon 
for her sick son ; she gratefully received it, and the next time she called 
brought us a quantity of nicely dried whortleberries, for which she refused any 
compensation ; other similar incidents ai-e within my recollection. In the 
fall of 1826, a young Indian came to the station, saying that his friends had all 
gone for their winter's hunt, and left him behind, because he was sick and 
could not travel ; he appeared nearly gone with consumption ; he begged to 
be taken in and permitted to sleep by the fire in the children's room, and to 
eat what they might leave. While his streugth lasted, he was anxious to make 
himself useful, and would cheerfully offer to do any little chores which he fell 
able to do ; but he was soon confined to his bed. He gladly received instruc- 
tion through the interpreter, and some of the larger boys, who had hopefully 
become pious, often prayed with him. We never carried him a dish of food or 
a cup of cold water without receiving his emphatic " tcawanee, wavcanee^' 
(tliank you, thank you.) He died apparently happy, trusting in the Saviour. 
There are many reminiscences of the mission, interesting to me, which might 
not seem so to others. If you think the above satisfactory and wish me to 
continue, I will answer any questions you may propose. 

Yours, Lucia B. Van Tassel. 



Maumee City, Jan. 17, 1873. 

H. S. Knapp,— Sir : The mission farm was situated nine miles above Fort 
Meigs, and the same distance below Gilead, (Grand Rapids.) It included the east 
half section and south-west ciuarter section lying on the Maumee river at the 
mouth of Tontogany creek. The large island opposite, and extending down to the 
lower rapids, 1^ miles in length and half a mile in width, also belonged to the 
mission farm. 'The section on the main land was densely covered with large 



Ihe J^resbyterian Mission — 182i\ 6(37 



timber, and part of the island. On the upper end was about 40 acres without 
timber, which was immediately cultivated. A two story frame house, still 
standing, was built on the bank, below the mouth of the creek, on the west 
side of the road, and a large orchard, raised from the seed by the missionaries, 
was set out on the side hill south of the house ; all the mission buildings 
except the framed house have been removed. The present owners and occu- 
pants of the farm are two brothers, George and Thomas Yunt. The location 
of the mission was probably as healthy as any on the Maumee river. At that 
time the family suffered much from sickness, incident to the climate, and other 
diseases which followed; and, in four years, nearly all of the original mem- 
bers had left. The labour afterward was mostly performed by hired help. 
The missionaries likewise suffered the second year for want of proper food. 
Our first jj^ear's supply was exhausted. We were informed that there was 
flour for us at Erie, Pennsylvania; but navigation had closed, and there was 
no road through which a team could pass within thirty miles. Nothing but 
corn could be procured, and that, for want of a mill to grind it, had, for some 
weeks, to be eaten whole. No vegetables could be obtained, no potatoes, not 
even for seed. We were told that " potatoes would not grow on Maumee," 
but the third spring a vessel came into the river laden with potatoes ; Mr. Van 
Tassel went down and bought 40 bushels, and wc never afterwards wanted 
for potatoes 

Some time in November, 182.'!, all the female members of the family being 
sick, a j'oung woman, living a few miles down the river, was engaged to assist 
a few Veeks, and Samuel Holmes, a half Indian boy, 8 years old, was sent 
down with a horse for her ; he told her he chose to walk back, and would 
leave the horse for her to ride, when she was ready. The girl came, but the 
boy had not come home ; it was thought he might have loitered on the way to 
gather hickory nuts, as they were very plenty. Night came and he did not 
make his appearance ; the ftamily became alarmed and sent around to the 
Indian camps, but no one had seen him. A message was sent to his father, 
who lived below the mouth of the river, who came and brought an Indian 
with him. They searched through the woods, and visited every Indian camp 
they could find, but could hear nothing of him. All ho"e was relinquished of 
finding him, when a report came that some Indians had found a child in the 
woods and brought it to Findlay. His father and companion started immedi- 
ately for that place, and about twenty mile? from the station, met Samuel 
walking slowly, supporting himself with a stick in each hand. When asked 
where he was going, he said he was going home to the station, that he had 
been lost in the woods a long time, and had lived on nuts; but for two days 
had been in a swamp, where he could find none, and he was almost 
starved. Twenty-one days, he had subsisted on nuts. There seemed a special 
providence in his being found on that day, as he must have perished soon with 
cold and hunger. The children weie generally docile and affectionate to their 
teachers and each other, though fi'om different tribes. Disturbances seldom 
occuiTed among them, and they learned as fast as children in general. 

Yours respectfully, 

Luci.v B. Van Tassel. 



Academy of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. 

JVEA.1T FOR TVA.YJN13, ITVO. 



This Institution, with its deliglilfnl location, and modern improvements, is nnder the 
direction of an Order of Teachers who have become widely popular from their success in the 
instruction of younr; ladies in many of the flrs'-class institutions throu<:hout the Union. 

It is easy of access, situated five miles north of Fort'Waync, being only twenty minutes' 
ride from that city on the Jackson and Saijinaw R. R., and two miles east of Wallen Station 
on the Grand Eapids Railway. 

The Scholastic Year Commencing the First Monday in September, ■ 

Is divided into two sessions of five months each. The course of Stnf^y is thcroush and 
extensive, embracinfj, besidns the elementary branclies, Botany. Astronomy, OhemiBtry. 
the higher mathematics, Belles-Lettres, &c. NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR FRKNCll, it bs- 
ing the lanttuage spoken in the vicinity. Particuhr attentioii paid to Music, 

The Discipline is mild, but conducted with such vigilance and energy as to secure perfect 
order and regularity. The young ladies are kept within a line of duty more t>y a sense of 
honor and lustice than by fear of punishment. They become the childien of the house, the 
Sisters watching over their interests with the solicitude of a mother. 

The Table of Honor, weekly notes, monthly tickets, semi-annual examinations, and bul 
letins. are some of the means made use of to excite in the minds cf the pupils the love of 
'?tudy, and to reward the diligent. 

Pupils are received at all times, their session commencing with date of entrance. Pay- 
ments required half-year y in advance. Non-Catholics received, and only required to assist 
with decorum at the public religious eseicises. 

TKKMS PER SKSSION- 

Koard and Tuition, ...... 973 

Washing and JBeddiiitj, lO 

Music, . . . 25 

Modern I.angua(jes, leach, lO 
Latin, ......... 10 

Dratoinff and jPainting in IVatcr Colors, 10 

Painting in Oil, 20 

Board in Vacation, '.two month.'i, 30 

Artificial Flower Lessons, ' > 12 

Artificial Fruit and Leather Work, . . 12 

Regulation for Wardrobe— Four tnwcl^, fonr napkins, four changes of linen, one 
dressing gown, two pairs of shoes, one pair of rubbers, table service, and toilet set. 

t^^For further particulars Address 

SISTER SUPERIOR, 

Box, 1618. Fort Wayne, Ind. 

CEO. J. S. MAYER k F. YOIROL, ^ 



I ,ar 3B "^C^F ^S ]E^ ^3 3E1L 



'•d^ 



]Vo. 39 JEafst J^Jaiii Stx-e*^t, 
Opposite First and Fort Wayne National Banks, FORT WAYNE, IND. 

We keep the only accurate time in this cily, for all Railroads running out of Fort Wayne . 
"Sun" time can be had from our ship Chronometer. Transit obskrvations taken every 
noon and night. Those who have Fine Watches and are anxious to know and see how ac- 
curately they run, can do so by calling at our Store . It will afford us pleasure to set and regu- 
)ate all Watches accurately and gratuitously. 



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